Hundreds of Muslim workers fired after dispute over prayers

[DesiGuy]

FORT MORGAN, Colo. -- Nearly 200 Muslim workers have been fired from a Cargill meatpacking plant in Colorado, for walking out after a dispute over prayer breaks.
Praying five times a day is a must for many Muslims.

But Tony Aden says missing even one of those prayers over a break time dispute caused him and many others to walk away from their jobs.

"It don't matter if I don't have a job, my religion is more important," Aden told CBS News.

The following Monday, nearly 200 employees from the Muslim community didn't show up to work for three consecutive days. The company fired them all.

"There are times when accommodation is not possible," Martin said. "But in an overwhelming majority of instances, we do everything we can to ensure sure that we do accommodate employees."

Jaylani Hussein represents 150 workers who are now without a job.

"Now we are getting supervisors who are telling our clients to go home if they wanted to pray," Hussein said. "If they are denied their basic rights to practice their faith reasonably at their employment, they seem to be losing one of the basic fundamental rights."

Cargill is now hiring to fill the shoes of those who walked out.

Areas have been set up at Cargill since 2009 to accommodate anyone who requested time to pray.

The Council on American Islamic Relations is currently working reach an agreement with Cargill so that those fired workers can return.

Hundreds of Muslim workers fired after dispute over prayers - CBS News

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

"It don't matter if I don't have a job, my religion is more important," Aden told CBS News.

Isn't feeding their families more important?

Anyway it is actually necessary to pray 5 times a day? I have known some Muslims and they definitely did not pray 5 times a day.

 

[TheNoob]

Isn't feeding their families more important?

Anyway it is actually necessary to pray 5 times a day? I have known some Muslims and they definitely did not pray 5 times a day.

nah.
depends on the level of your religious views.

Its whenever you have the time, could be once or twice a day is okay and not praying due to such reasons isn't a sin either.

 

[CHD]

five times a day is a must for many Muslims.

nah.
depends on the level of your religious views.

Its whenever you have the time, could be once or twice a day is okay and not praying due to such reasons isn't a sin either.

FORT MORGAN, Colo. -- Nearly 200 Muslim workers have been fired from a Cargill meatpacking plant in Colorado, for walking out after a dispute over prayer breaks.
Praying five times a day is a must for many Muslims.

But Tony Aden says missing even one of those prayers over a break time dispute caused him and many others to walk away from their jobs.

"It don't matter if I don't have a job, my religion is more important," Aden told CBS News.

The following Monday, nearly 200 employees from the Muslim community didn't show up to work for three consecutive days. The company fired them all.

"There are times when accommodation is not possible," Martin said. "But in an overwhelming majority of instances, we do everything we can to ensure sure that we do accommodate employees."

Jaylani Hussein represents 150 workers who are now without a job.

"Now we are getting supervisors who are telling our clients to go home if they wanted to pray," Hussein said. "If they are denied their basic rights to practice their faith reasonably at their employment, they seem to be losing one of the basic fundamental rights."

Cargill is now hiring to fill the shoes of those who walked out.

Areas have been set up at Cargill since 2009 to accommodate anyone who requested time to pray.

The Council on American Islamic Relations is currently working reach an agreement with Cargill so that those fired workers can return.

Hundreds of Muslim workers fired after dispute over prayers - CBS News

Usually only two prayers out of 5 comes in office hours one in afternoon which can be performed during lunch time and second around 4-5 PM which if you pray dont take more than 5 minutes and i never missed prayers even when i was doing job in ireland in a firm

 

[DesiGuy]

Muslims should file a discrimination case...They are victims of this cruel world everywhere.

Saudi Arabia need to raise voice against this.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Employees are suppose to allow for smoke break of 15 min to workers every 3-4 hours.
Generally after 4 hours a break of 15 minutes is also due. Not to mention a break for lunch is also there

Seems like the manager of organization did not know how to MANAGE the break process

 

[PakSword]

Isn't feeding their families more important?

Anyway it is actually necessary to pray 5 times a day? I have known some Muslims and they definitely did not pray 5 times a day.

5 times prayers are must. There is no difference of opinion among any of the sunni sect of Islam. For Shia, they join 2 prayers and thus they can pray three times.

However in UAE,

1 - First prayer in before sunrise - so no conflict with the work time.
2 - Second prayer is in the mid day - Here is UAE, the time starts shortly after twelve and ends around half past three. A Muslim can complete his/ her prayer in 15-20 mins.
3 - Third prayer time starts right after second prayer time ends, and ends before sunset. Ample time again to offer prayers.
4 - Fourth prayer time starts after sunset and ends after more than an hour. Most people reach their home before the fifth prayer time starts. so no conflict with the work time.
5 - Fifth prayer time starts right after fourth prayer and ends in the morning (approx. some minutes before sunrise). So again no issue with the work.

The only two prayers that conflict with the work time are second and third, which take approx. 30 mins to complete.

Even if Muslim workers want to pray in congregation, they can do that in groups of two or more (in their preferred time slot).

Don't know why some Muslims want to be highlighted.

 

[TheNoob]

Muslims should file a discrimination case...They are victims of this cruel world everywhere.

Saudi Arabia need to raise voice against this.

KSA is not the face of all muslims..... Thank god for that.

 

[Solomon2]

Muslims should file a discrimination case...They are victims of this cruel world everywhere.

Seems like the manager of organization did not know how to MANAGE the break process

The company knows how to manage the break process. What happened is that many Muslims in one section wanted to take their prayer break all at once, which would have disturbed production, rather than the usual 1-2 at a time. The Muslims specifically demanded the company change its current rules: link. When they were refused, not just these Muslims but two hundred more walked out.

Under the law, an employer does not have to accept a religious accommodation that involves undue hardship on its business and halting production five times a day to accommodate the religious desires of workers certainly qualifies. So Cargill was within its rights to fire these striking workers and it's likely that a discrimination suit against the employer would fail.

 

[Imran Khan]

good they can go home and pray 24/7 now

 

[Solomon2]

good they can go home and pray 24/7 now

The Muslim Brotherhood's Council on Islamic-American Relations (CAIR) is negotiating with Cargill on this. CAIR has been on the scene lately whenever there are provocations to establish special powers or privileges for Muslims in the U.S.

 

[takeiteasy]

Not to offend pious Muslims - But, the stereotype of 5 time namazi with daadi can be seen suspiciously in a country like India. On topic: only on Friday noons I've seen them disappearing from the offices for nimaz.

 

[Basel]

nah.
depends on the level of your religious views.

Its whenever you have the time, could be once or twice a day is okay and not praying due to such reasons isn't a sin either.

Don't spread false info about praying. Muslims prayed 5 times a day or not, they will be questioned about it in grave. 05 time praying in days is obligation in Islam.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

Awww, that really sucks. Lifes not fair.

 

[TheNoob]

Don't spread false info about praying. Muslims prayed 5 times a day or not, they will be questioned about it in grave. 05 time praying in days is obligation in Islam.

If they want, they can pray 100 times a day but there are life necessities too.
and as i said, It can be forgiven if theres something important you had to do in that time. If thats not the case, then well...

its probably right to question extreme views of muslims nowadays, no?