Posted on 03/18/2005 5:01:52 PM PST by lancer
An Islamic civil rights group says it has reached a settlement with the Dell computer company involving 31 Muslim employees who wanted to time out from work to pray at sunset.
Coincidentally, a bill reintroduced in Congress on Thursday would address situations such as the one at Dell.
The workers walked off their assembly-line jobs at Dell's computer manufacturing plant in Nashville, Tenn., last month when they were told they had to choose between praying on the job or losing the job. Devout Muslims pray five times a day.)
In a settlement announced late Thursday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the workers will be reinstated, receive back pay and be granted religious accommodation.
Dell managers will receive additional training on existing religious accommodation policies and practices, CAIR said in a press release. It added that other terms of the settlement will not be made public.
The settlement was announced after a meeting between CAIR, Dell, the Muslim workers, the Nashville Metro Human Relations Commission, and Spherion Corp., the company that provided the workers to Dell.
"We are pleased with both the terms of the settlement and with the cooperative attitude of all parties in the negotiations," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad in a press release.
"We thank everyone from around the world who contacted Dell to express their support for reasonable religious accommodation in the workplace."
"This settlement can be used as model by other production facilities that employ large numbers of Muslim workers," said CAIR Legal Director Arsalan Iftikhar, who also participated in today's negotiations.
CAIR publishes a booklet called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices," which it says is designed to prevent incidents like the one at Dell.
Congress introduces legislation
Coincidentally, a bipartisan "Workplace Religious Freedom Act" was reintroduced in the House and Senate on Thursday, and backers -- including conservative Christian groups -- predict it will pass this time.
The bill would require companies hiring 15 or more people to assume more of a burden than they do now in accommodating employees' religious practices. It beefs up the test for "undue hardship" when companies are asked to make "reasonable accommodation."
Critics of the bill, including the American Civil Liberties Union and homosexual activists, say it is too broad and may uphold some rights at the expense of others. The Human Rights Campaign issued a statement warning that some religious rights might erode anti-discrimination protections.
Some Republicans worry that the bill may be too costly for businesses.
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I'm with you. I'm sending an email ASAP to let them know just how I feel. Bet if these were Christians, they'd be out on the street and the MSM would totally ignore or ridicule the story.
do all other religions get this accomadation. If not it's unconstitutional.
Dell managers will receive additional training on existing religious accommodation policies and practices, CAIR said in a press release. It added that other terms of the settlement will not be made public.
I never in a million years would have expected people in Nashville -- the proud city of my boyhood -- to knuckle under so thoroughly, and disgracefully.
This country becomes more cancerous by the hour.
Dell caves to the anti-humans.
Haven't you heard? Our constitution now depends on what their doing in Jamaica. Check this out.
Screw dell.. I'd say worse, but I'd get banned.
they're
Yes well Dell can sell their computers in Jamaica
Hey, my religion says I only work 4 hours but get paid for 8. I demand my rights!!
ping, you'll like this one.
Aww man, they banned broadsword??
Dell has seen their last dollar from me.
The only thing built here by Dell now are ramps for the trucks at the loading docks and the number of full-time employees is a state secret.
This was released by cair, so I wouldn't give it very much credibility at all.
If it's true then I agree Dell needs to hear from us all, but everyone know cair and muslims will lie about everything.
why? You may as well boycott everything else you buy as well. The whole friggin corporate world is scared to death and frantically trying to appease all these "groups". :-)
My company has us sign a form that we will be tolerant of people with different racial, ethic backgrounds which is OK untilthey get to this term: "gay, lesbian and transgendered people". Transgendered people? For them to even think to include that term makes me wonder if there is someone in my company of that ilk who has forced the issue.
Islam is NOT a religion it is a GANG.. its not even a cult..
With colors, hazing, tribal ceremomies, drive bys and everything..
I guess having a big Pork Rib BBQ at the company picnic would be inappropriate.
Muslims THAT devout -- should stay in their homelands...
Muslims THAT devout -- would NEVER allow Christians to pray openly in THEIR lands...
Saudi Arabia has not a single Christian chaple in the entire country -- yet the lunatic bastards come here and insist we accommodate them..
We're nuts to seriously consider this foolishness.
Semper Fi
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