Tyson Backtracks On Labor Day / Eid al-Fitr Holiday Decision

Stuck On Stupid ^ | August 8, 2008 | Quaker

[Quaker]

Tyson Foods backed down on it’s contract with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) to recognize Eid al-Fitr rather than Labor Day.

[silverleaf]

Backed down? shucks, I was already planning a pork sausage and spare rib barbeque for Eid.

[Sybeck1]

Threats of boycotts must have worked.

[lormand]

"I was already planning a pork sausage and spare rib barbeque for Eid."

Make sure the entire pork BBQ in Eid is after dawn, and before dusk.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Commie Labor Day versus Muslim Fanatic Eid al-Fitr. I don't have a dog in this fight.

[mouse1]

Great that they backed down, but obviously since they traded in the first place I still have an issue with Tyson.
Fact is, they had no problem with the islamazation of America

[KittenClaws]

I've been boycotting Tyson for quite awhile.

Even if I hadn't been, I'd have boycotted them for simply thinking about replacing Labor Day with a holiday celebrating islam.

[chesley]

When is Eid, anyway?

I think I’ll have a pork butt, and fire up the grill using my free copy of the Koran I got a few years back.

[chris_bdba]

Glad to see it but I have to say that after reading about this I am less likely to buy Tyson products ever again.

[DeLaine]

Get your free Koran today, just in time to fire up the grill, or stop up your toilet. :)

http://www.freekoran.com/form.php

[lormand]

When I worked for Nortel Networks in the late 90’s, I had a muslim manager who decided to take us out for team building. He booked dinner at the Cheesecake Factory at 7PM during Ramadan since he could not eat during daylight hours. I didn’t go.

[Iron Munro]

It is obvious from this longer article (link follows) that Tyson was pressured into dropping the holiday swap. It also reveals that there is a deeper problem in the town itself with the muslims than just disagreement over a single holiday (see last two sentences below).

Here are a few other excerpts:

Tyson workers revote; Labor Day brought back

"Members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) and Tyson Foods workers at the poultry processing plant in Shelbyville overwhelmingly voted to overturn a union contract provision that replaced Labor Day as a paid holiday with the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr, it was announced this morning."

In a letter to the Times-Gazette published Thursday, Ray, Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartwright, Democratic State Rep. Curt Cobb, and Republican State Sen. Jim Tracy said that substituting Labor Day "for a non-traditional holiday is unacceptable."

"For over a hundred years, Labor Day has stood as a symbol to honor the working men and women of this country. But for the past few years traditions like Labor Day have been under attack. This time it's gone too far and we, as patriotic Americans, must draw our line in the sand."

The letter stated that religious freedom in America is "a founding principle of this nation" and offering those with different beliefs a chance to worship "is a long tradition in this country."

"But in America we do not need to allow substitutions and exceptions to our beloved heritage," the four wrote.

The leaders stated they had spoken with the RWDSU and Tyson Food officials "and have asked them to reconsider their contract actions and work to restore America's image as a nation built on noble traditions."

"We must stand up for working people of Shelbyville, Bedford County, and all Tennesseans, stand up to defend our heritage, rights and privileges in celebrating the American Worker for all that they have done to make this country great!" the letter concluded."

Ray said that a majority of the people Tyson serves "are upset with it."

"Most of them think that when people come to America, they should do as Americans do, instead of Americans changing and adapting things the way they do. In language, traditions and all of that."

The mayor said the county needs for people to be employed, but the Labor Day issue has had a major impact on the perception of Tyson Foods and the way they do business. Ray says the controversy is not a racial issue, but instead about an American tradition where "many people take pride in Labor Day."

Mayor Ray also said that a lot of work needs to be done to help the Somalis "get along with people, how to work with people ... and how to be kind to one another."

This is in reference to the frequent reports from the public of the refugee's "rude and demanding" attitude that the T-G reported in the Somalis on Shelbyville series published in December 2007.

[chesley]

I dond’t really understand fasting for half a day. I’d be more impressed if they did it for , oh, 40 days straight, including nights.

[nobama08]

And in their own country.