Muslim Workers Walk Off Job Over Prayers

[annieap]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Thirty Muslims walked off the job at a Dell Inc. plant after alleging the company refused to let them pray at sunset — the latest dispute over prayer between an American business and its Islamic employees.

For full story go here:

http://news.yahoo.com/newstmpl=story&u=/ap/20050311/ap_on_bi_ge/prayer_dispute

I will post my thoughts/comments a bit later tonight.

[tkcomer]

Here is another post on it: http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/05/03/66733769.shtml Did these people not know of the work rules BEFORE they hired in? If a company wants to change their rules to accommodate them, that’s fine. If they were lied to by the temp agency they have a beef with them, not Dell. But if they hired in there, worked a short time and THEN decided they wanted prayer time, they only have three options. Hope the company changes its work rules for them. Forgo their prayers. Or (And they chose this one) quit and find employment that will accommodate their religion. A lot of religious people in this country can’t attend their faith’s services because of their job. And they chose that.

[Chuck]

Quitting work to worship god or continue working to worship man? Hmmm,,, Interesting concept.

I don't begrudge then for their choices. They should find a position that will accommodate their needs. The employer should not be made to accommodate their needs.

Could be an interesting chat...

[Jeremy]

Who would want to work for a place that won't let you slip away for a measely five minutes anyway? I don't think we are getting the whole story though. Drury, the spokesman for Dell says they have a tag-out procedure that allows someone on an assembly line to be replaced for five minutes to do the prayer. Sounds like something collapsed in an already tolerant system. These were temp workers and a whole 30 of them got fired. That sounds more like a conflict of egos where either the management got an attitude that day or the workers did. I think religious issues were just the backdrop for this conflict.

[tkcomer]

That’s why I mentioned the temp agency. I’m not sure what the workers were told. But if I was a strong Muslim and took a second shift job where the sun goes down, I’d be darn sure to ask if I could pray then. I’d say none of them did. They wanted the job. And then tried to act surprised when all 30 of them could not walk off a production line to do it. The company can change policy to meet their demands. A lot go out of their way to accommodate their employees. Good for them. But the employee had better be ready when an employer won’t or can’t meet their demands.

[annieap]

With thirty people tagging out at the same time, the assmebly line would come to a screeching halt.
If I read the two articles correctly, they ALL must pray at the same time which would not allow for the tag out system.

[lackocash]

very thoughtfull indeed...you folks never cease to impress..

[mark]

........I'm with the employer, fire them.

As a compromise though, I say just change THEIR lunch hour ( no one else's ) to sunset.

They would probably complain about that too, saying they can't get a full lunch break after their prayers.

Some folks you just can't please...........see ya Mark

[annieap]

The sun doesnt set every evening at the same time either so that would present a problem. There doesnt seem to be an obvious solution to this one.

[lackocash]

i think islam should be outlawed in our judeo christian country by our fearless christian leader who is fighting the pagans around the world on his crusade/ministry....may be if those folks accepted christ as their savior they would not need to pray to allah we have freedom of the christian religion not from it and any religion that requires you to pray at a certain time is sure to be false....the reverend jerry vines of jacksonville florida said moohamed was a "demonised child molester"....and these people want to do what?.....not in my country....not under my flag.....