130 Muslim workers fired over unauthorized breaks during Ramadan

[Volokh, Eugene]

From
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/sep/10/swift-company-fires-10
0-workers/:
 
At least 130 Muslim workers at the north Greeley JBS Swift & Co. plant
were fired Wednesday afternoon, apparently over a dispute involving
breaks during Ramadan....

At issue is a request by Muslim workers to be able to take their lunch
breaks at sunset to end their fast during Ramadan.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 spokesman Manny Gonzales said
that between 130 to 150 workers from JBS Swift & Co. had been fired.

The firings appear to be related to the walkout of as many as 300 Muslim
employees Friday. Many of the workers had been suspended after walking
off the job before their shifts ended....

But many of the workers who gathered at a Greeley park Tuesday expressed
their dissatisfaction with negotiations by saying, "No prayer, no work."

Swift spokeswoman Tamara Smid said in a written statement that the
workers were told they would be fired if they didn't report to work when
recalled. Smid didn't specify how many workers were fired. ... 

Any thoughts? 

Eugene

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