Union says Muslim workers had no advance warning of firings
By Joanne Kelley, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Lisa Ryckman, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published September 11, 2008 at 3:45 p.m.
Dennis Schroeder © The Rocky
Ahmed Hirmoge, 20, left, was fired Wednesday from the Swift company in Greeley. " I can't believe they couldn't work this out. I really didn't want to lose my job."
Do you think the Muslim workers at the Swift plant should have been fired?
GREELEY — The union representing JBS Swift workers here said many of those involved in a prayer break dispute had no advance warning they would be fired if they failed to return to work this week.
In addition to filing grievances for each of the employees who want their jobs back, the United Food and Commercial Workers will also challenge the slaughterhouse giant for allegedly leaving the union out of initial negotiations over Ramadan-related rituals.
"The company went around the union a week ago and cut a side deal with some workers and then reneged," said Manny Gonzales, a spokesman for UFCW Local 7. "That was the cause of this whole mess."
The controversy marks the second year in a row the meatpacking company has clashed with employees over the timing of Ramadan-related rituals. A similar dispute erupted in 2007 at Swift's plant in Grand Island, Neb.
At the plant here, Muslim workers wanted to break their Ramadan fast at 7:30 p.m., which required moving their "lunch" break forward.
Swift officials offered to move the mid-shift respite to 8 p.m. from 9 p.m. But the compromise failed to satisfy many of the affected workers because their holy month obligations require them to break their Ramadan fast at sunset, which varies daily and falls earlier in the evening.
The company terminated more than 100 workers after they failed to report to the Greeley meatpacking facility for its second shift on Tuesday night. Even more workers had walked off the job last Friday, prompting the company to suspend them initially for violating their collective bargaining agreement.
On Thursday, fired Somali workers met at the Greeley Islamic Center for afternoon prayers and to talk about their next step. They said no action would be taken until Friday at the earliest, out of respect for the Sept. 11 anniversary.
Some of the workers said tensions between the Somalis and their Hispanic supervisors had been simmering for months.
"When they were firing me, one of the guys said, 'Screw you, and your religion, and your people. And he was one of the head guys over there," said Ahmed Hirmoge, 20, who came to the United States in 1995, about five years after civil war broke out in Somalia.
He speaks English fluently and worries about what will happen to the majority of Somalis who have been here a short time and speak English too poorly to find work elsewhere.
"They came here for peace and freedom, and this is their first and last job," he said. "These people, how are they going to survive?"
Hirmoge's cousin, Kamal Abdi, 27, still has his job because it's so difficult that few people want to do it, he said. But he believes he's going to be fired soon, along with the rest of the Somali workers.
"I'm angry, but what can I do?" said Abdi, who sends $500 a month to relatives still in Africa.
After prayers, the two men stood in a parking lot behind the Islamic Center and talked about moving to Canada, where they hoped they would find a job that would accommodate their religious customs.
"They say these people are more faithful to their religion than the company," Hirmoge said. "My response: Swift ain't going to take me to heaven, right? So I'm going to chose God any day."
Swift spokeswoman Tamara Smid said the company can't stagger breaks because all 1,500 workers per shift take their breaks at the same time as the assembly line shuts down. Smid also said it was up to the union to inform workers who walked off that if they didn't return to work, they would be fired.
The UFCW's Gonzales said word didn't spread fast enough to all the workers that they needed to resume working or be fired.
Immigrants rights groups and advocates for Muslims have begun to intervene on behalf of the workers, either to help them find new employment or in hopes of resolving the prayer break issue.
"We have a lot of experience dealing with this kind of situation," said Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "In just about every case we've been able to come up with a reasonable solution."
Hooper said the sunset prayer break is "almost always the sticking point" because there is little flexibility in when it must take place.
"Sunset comes at sunset," he said.
The dispute coincides with the announcement of a landmark settlement in Minnesota that gives Somali workers brief prayer breaks at the Gold'n Plump poultry plant following a yearlong investigation by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The federally mediated agreement is reportedly one of the first in the country that requires employers to accommodate the Islamic prayer schedule.
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
September 11, 2008
4:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
CWW writes:
Too bad, so sad. If you walk out on your job, expect to be fired. I only hope they will be deported now that they don't have jobs.
I only hope the local authorities and ICE don't blow this one.
September 11, 2008
5:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
T1anda writes:
Don't know if the Muslims are illegal..... but, hey Swift & Co why don't you hire AMERICAN'S????
Continue hiring foriegn workers and you will have nothing but trouble in the future!! Since you only want dirt cheap workers... you get what you pay for! I hope they sue the heck out of you and take you for millions!!!
September 11, 2008
6:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
Darwin writes:
T1anda, that's real smart, you want the workers for being fired for not abiding by the terms of their employment contract. The lawyers would love to get their 40% and as a consumer I wouldn't appreciate the higher prices WE would have to pay for poultry. Than those on limited income would have to buy even more cat food and dog food. I guess your compassion doesn't extend to Americans.
September 11, 2008
6:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
agzela writes:
I dont know if anyone here especially those that demand to hire Americans only realize that Swift is owned by a company in Brazil!
So goes our economy! being bought out by the rest of the world do we really wonder why we have this problem!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JBS_S.A.
September 11, 2008
8:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
The_Punnisher writes:
Sigh. Just another form of Somalian PIRACY, IMHO...
You walk off a job, you get fired.
September 11, 2008
8:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
seeker writes:
Wow. Racism is alive and thriving in Colorado. No freedom of religion either. No wonder a person of color has no chance of being elected president.
Some of the blogs over the last few days on this have been brutal and violent. Not all Muslims are extremists. These people are refugees. Victims of genocide, rape, starvation and violence. They were brought here by your President and government. They will not be deported. They will not lose their visas. They made a deal with management and the deal was reneged. They belong to a union. Remember unions? Unions walk out all the time. This is America. We strike when things go wrong.
Since we like to call this a Christian nation how about we give the whole Christian philosophy a run at this situation. Maybe go buy a copy of the NT red letter edition and just read those words and get a grip.
These people are being help by faith based groups. The churches in Greeley are assisting these families who had no choice in where they have ended up. We rescued them. They did not demand to be brought to the USA. THIS IS AMERICA BEING THE GOOD GUYS.....IT'S WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.
We need to chill out and let this run it's course. These people have nothing and right now they have lost what little they had. Let the Union sort this out and remember that Swift is not without blame. They are not a US based business. Their hiring pratices are questionable at best. They usurped the union making a snarky deal and then reneged. They also were raided by ICE and lost 270 illegals awhile back. Soon they will run out of exploitable workers. So calm down and let the system work. This is America. We are better than the violent ugly words and threats on these blogs over the last several days.
September 11, 2008
8:47 p.m.
Suggest removal
Sixtysixdeuce writes:
"They say these people are more faithful to their religion than the company," Hirmoge said. "My response: Swift ain't going to take me to heaven, right? So I'm going to chose God any day."
He made his decision, as did the other workers who walked out/didn't show. Now they have to live with that decision. If you choose faith over a paycheck (why is it even a conflict???), expect to be broke.
Swift may not take him to heaven, but Allah isn't gonna pay his bills.
September 11, 2008
9:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
Sixtysixdeuce writes:
"Wow. Racism is alive and thriving in Colorado. No freedom of religion either. No wonder a person of color has no chance of being elected president."
This isn't about race or religion. It's about workers who were fired because the were derelict. For the workers, it is about religion. For Swift, it is about business. If you choose not to show up to perform the duties you were hired to perform, expect to be unemployed.
"Some of the blogs over the last few days on this have been brutal and violent. Not all Muslims are extremists. These people are refugees. Victims of genocide, rape, starvation and violence."
That's all well and good, and I feel sorry for anyone who has to suffer through what some of these folks have. but it doesn't change the fact that you either work the schedule your employer has set forth, or you find yourself out of a job. Don't like it? Start your own business.
"They belong to a union. Remember unions? Unions walk out all the time. This is America. We strike when things go wrong."
Strikes never guaranteed continued employment. Companies were always free to fire each and every worker who went on strike. Some companies cannot afford to fire a substantial portion of their workforce. Some can, and do. Perfectly legal.
On that note, unions are a disease in this country. They drive prices up by getting people wages they don't deserve, and the result is that eventually those union companies go under because they cannot compete with non-union companies who promote the best workers and pay according to productivity rather than length of employment.
"These people have nothing and right now they have lost what little they had."
Again, their choice.
September 11, 2008
10:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
ThoughtSausage writes:
"Union says Muslim workers had no advance warning of firings" - who gets advance warning before they are fired for not coming to work for several days? I wouldn't warn someone 3 days prior to firing them for their behavior. That's not a smart way to let people go. Who knows what they would do...
Good riddance.
September 12, 2008
12:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
Doneuron writes:
Smart employers find ways to boost the moral of their employees and make it a better work place. Unless of course the employer doesn't care about the work environment because they seek cheap labor to exploit. In this case it is just an example of corporate bottom line thinking. It is the same attitude that allows corporations to pollute public resources and sell contaminated products and factor the penalties as a cost of doing business. What obligation does a corporation have to its workers or the environment? As far as the employees H1B visas go, typically the employer is required to pay for the flight back to the home country should they break the terms of the Visa. Perhaps JBS Swift wanted a convenient way to cut the payroll costs so that they could break the terms of the visas. It seems petty to fire so many low wage workers for such an insignificant, yet legitimate, request.
September 12, 2008
12:47 a.m.
Suggest removal
bph writes:
Just what I want, a disgruntled Muslim handling my food supply.
September 12, 2008
12:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
jacka writes:
Lazy Union Bosses. Your monopoly deal, you represent the workers, do the job your members pay you to do.
Why did you let your workers get fired? Did you want them to be fired so you could bring back the illegals with stolen IDs ... we know you had them registered to vote Ernie.
UFCW screws its own members to make a PR ploy for an anti Colorado ballot measure they used forced dues to support.
YES on Amendment 47 for real employee free choice
September 12, 2008
1:14 a.m.
Suggest removal
arby writes:
Keep in mind these people are here at the behest of us the American people. They do not have the same rights as a citizen.
Their work visas specified what company they were being employed by and the location of their employment. Since they are no longer employed they are now here illegally. They have no right to sue or to even remain in the USA. They blew the chance of their lives and need to be deported now.
September 12, 2008
1:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
sac621 writes:
Americans First!!!
September 12, 2008
2:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
roger44 writes:
Wonder why they didn't fight back when they were being killed and raped back in their country? Instead of bringing them into this country ship them some weapons and if they don't take up arms and fight back??? I know it's easy for me to sit here and judge, I have the weapons to defend myself, but just seems to me when you have 10,000 in a camp and 500 soldiers come in and start shooting they could overwhelm them and take weapons and fight back. Only in the movies maybe--
September 12, 2008
4:04 a.m.
Suggest removal
gs writes:
No to Somalies in this country. Send them back.
September 12, 2008
4:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
roger44 writes:
So how much damage do you suppose they could do if only 2 of them were radicals in each plant they work in and decided to poison the food supply? That Company is the largest in the world for beef processing. Food for thought-pun intended.
September 12, 2008
4:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
windbourne writes:
Amazing. A number of you ppl really are racists (no wonder considering that this is more of a republican neo-con site). I understand and support fighting against illegals. That is a real threat to America and our economy ( more for the damage that has been done to automation).
But these ppl are here LEGALLY. Nearly ALL are here to be citizens. They deserve to live and work here. It is up to them to work it our with the company. It is not for you to start screaming that they must leave because they lost their job. There are other jobs available.
BTW, have you even met any of these ppl? Know any? Of the foreigners that I have met in my lifetime, none have been lazy or condenscending. One young women (once an ethiopian who is now American) that I know has 3 top dental schools vying for her. And yet, she has had a teacher at CU tell her to go back to Ethiopia. Not a single foreigner in that class got above a C. Sad. Very sad.
September 12, 2008
4:45 a.m.
Suggest removal
psydoc writes:
Religion in the workplace or in schools is a very sensitive issue to many. However, I wonder who is kidding whom when it comes to complaints of discrimination. When a new hire at a company is informed of religious holiday benefits, such as time off or holiday pay for working, do they object and say "I don't follow that religion so I refuse those benefits and ask for accomodations for my own beliefs?" Very unlikely. What seems to be happening is people want both slices of cake. They want the benefits of practices related to other religions, but they also want their own to be accomodated. How about if the company you plan to work for closes for certain religious holidays. Usually the workers are paid even for not working. If you do not attach yourself to those religious beliefs, you must refuse payment for those holidays... Could prove interesting, you think?
September 12, 2008
6:18 a.m.
Suggest removal
cpeterson writes:
windbourne you made my day.
I doubt they deserved above a C but there was no reason for them to be in the class anyway.
With C level grades, the dental schools will stop calling and she can pick up a mop and start cleaning someone's house.
September 12, 2008
6:43 a.m.
Suggest removal
vudumom writes:
Sundown changes everyday. How is a company supposed to shut down an entire assembly line of 1500 people to accomodate 100 workers religious beliefs? Ramadan last an entire month. When they walked off the job, why didn't a union rep tell them they were subject to firing? Why didn't a union rep step in and talk to the company? Isn't that their job? Why didn't the union tell them to go back to work and let them negotiate with the company? Why didn't the union tell the workers that workers were fired at another Swift company for the very same thing? The union failed these workers. Their religion failed them. The company (even though they are scummy) does not have an obligation to shut down an entire assembly line with at least 1300 other worker's who do not have the same religious beliefs. The worker's should understand that in this country religion is of all faiths and it is not forced on other people. Religion is not forced on employers. If they want to strictly adhere to their religious customs they have every right to do so. However they cannot expect other people who are not of their faith to change anything to accomodate their religious beliefs. Hard lesson to learn but an important learning point for our new American citizens.
The law states a employer must make a reasonable accomodation for religios practices. Shutting down an entire assembly line with 1500 people on it does not fall under reasonable. The union should help these workers find other employment and move on.
September 12, 2008
6:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
BuzzBomb writes:
And this is the mentality we are importing by the millions! God help us.
September 12, 2008
7:49 a.m.
Suggest removal
T1anda writes:
Boycott ALL Swift & Co products. Just don't buy the junk they put on the market!! It IS crappola by the way!
September 12, 2008
8:14 a.m.
Suggest removal
B300 writes:
unions are the decay of the american work force. jimmy hoffa is dead! fire them all and lets move on.
September 12, 2008
8:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
The union goons STILL refuse to accept the fact that if you do not show up to work, walk out or take you breaks at times other than what the boss tells you YOU WILL BE FIRED.
Union blather, the sound of a dying dinosaur.
Scott
September 12, 2008
8:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
catzilla writes:
Ok, I don't get it. I remember reading after the ICE raid there were people lining up at Swift to get the jobs that were vacated. How did 150 Somoli nationals get their jobs instead of the locals? Is there zero unemployment in Greeley?
Didn't the employees discuss their plan to walk off with their union reps? Seems like a case of job abondonment.
September 12, 2008
9:04 a.m.
Suggest removal
arby writes:
Apparently most of the posters here have never been out of country or worked with people here on work visas. There are very specific rules set by the Federal government that must be signed before a person is given a work visa. If the employee's English skills are limited they may bring a translator to assist them.
Remember again. These people were given the opportunity of their lives and they blew it. If they wanted to become citizens then they had to keep their jobs and abide by the terms of their visa. They didn't do that and are now here illegally.
BTW isn't Mogodishu, Somolia where they killed Americans and dragged the dead bodies through the streets while people pissed and spit on them?
September 12, 2008
9:32 a.m.
Suggest removal
CWW writes:
Now that these people are unemployed, will they lose their work visas and be deported? Or will then melt in with all the other illegals in CO? I hope ICE or someone is watching them.
I don't like Swift, but they were in the right in this case. The workers abandoned their jobs. I hope the vacant positions go to some unemployed local folks in Greeley.
September 12, 2008
9:42 a.m.
Suggest removal
wyhammertime writes:
If my boss told me " you walk you might get fired I would hede the warning as for the ones that want to go to Canada .... Go D.I.A. has flights there daily !! But you better check the laws before you go because I think it is worse than here Here is an American saying for you "DON'T LOOK A GIFT HOURSE IN THE MOUTH " !!!!
September 12, 2008
10:04 a.m.
Suggest removal
peter303 writes:
Islam does not "require" one to break fast at sunset. You arent supposed to eat nor drink even water between sunrise and sunset. Its advisable for health to drink and eat soon after, but not required. And employers would have more productive employees then.
September 12, 2008
11:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
seeker writes:
BeefEaterGrins
I believe that the ignorance and stupidity prize should be awarded to those who allow anger and hate to cloud their logic and judgment. History shows that a knee jerk reaction to emotional issues only fuels an already burning fire, Calmer heads must prevail. I only hoped to slow down the burn.
1) I quoted no labor laws. If you think I did then it is you who needs to read them.
2) Stupidity is something you obviously have first hand experience about but in my case you are incorrect.
3) I owned a business for 30 years, sold it and am now self-employed on my second career. Never been on welfare never will be. But again, your hate and ignorance is clearly obvious as you jumped to a lazy, baseless accusation used by people not capable of higher thinking.
4) Common sense is what is needed since we don’t know the entire story. I read the links to the Greeley Tribune newspaper going back to the beginning of this story so I could get a broader view of what happened.
5) I have been alive long enough to understand what racism and religious persecution is and it’s totally laughable that you think I don’t.
It never serves management or ownership well to allow a situation with this many employees to draw public attention. It is always better to reach an agreement before it hits newspapers and TV. Swift made a deal with the workers and then reneged. I have never expressed whether I am for or against management or labor. I just think we need to see how this shakes out before we go off half cocked. People do stupid things when hate and rage overtake common sense.
These are refugees. They are not typical immigrants. They had no say in what country they ended up in. The United States government has granted them refugee status. They were cleared by Homeland Security. They are not on H1B work Visas. They will not be deported. They may or may not have been at fault on this walk out. We will have to see how it shakes out. We need to chill out and see what happens.
The ability to think is what keeps us from acting on impulse. The pages of human history record the atrocities committed by man. Americans are an example of human rights and dignity in the world. They look to us because we stand up for freedom. We are Americans…..the good guys.
September 12, 2008
11:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
cdmdenver writes:
NEW AMERICAN BUSINESS MODEL
Pay American's fast food wages,
I agree with,
T1anda writes:
Boycott ALL Swift & Co products. Just don't buy the junk they put on the market!! It IS crappola by the way!
Take your stickin company back to Brazil,
we don't need your inferior food products,
and your sideshow antics Swift!