Tyson Foods - No More Labor Day Holiday

[COBRADOC]

This is absolutely disgusting:

http://www.wsmv.com/news/17063986/detail.html

[BigOleSwingin`]

WHOA! :blink: Now how did the rags accomplish this? First footbaths in the universities and then this. The whole world seems to become a friggin` caliphate. <_< Where is the vomiting smiley?

[gossman]

At first look, it can really p*ss one off but realizing that this is because of a labor contract "Tyson company spokeswoman Libby Lawson said by phone that, "This isn't a religious accommodation, this is a contractual agreement. The majority asked for it." it calmed me down. If it was agreed to by the majority ( here at Perfectunion the majority rule idea has been stressed many times as being the right way) then I have no problem with it. They could have also given them a choice or a floating holiday instead. As a printer I can tell you that holidays mean nothing, the paper still has to go out, and we worked through it. If through a contract they want to have that day off and since they employ over half their workforce with muslims, why do we want to argue? Labor Day was began as a Labor holiday created by Labor unions. It isn't really an issue of patriotism. As far as christian sentiment, how many are really willing to become a collective bargaining group? I am a christian, yet because of my profession I had to work Easter (the Holiest of all Christian holiday's) for many years and no one seemed to care, for most it's a time to hunt eggs and eat ham with the family. Later I went to work for a Roman Catholic organization and they gave Holy Friday off and I was all for it. I think rather than curse the darkness, let's light a light about what real christianity has to offer, not the triumphant & self righteousness of many evangelical groups or the milktoast of emergent/seeker sensitive churches but true historical christianity.

[Mrblackguns]

I had heard a report about Tyson's strange connection to the musslum community and left wing politics several moths ago,......wish I could remember the details but to be honest I wasn't paying to much attention to it at the time because it sounded silly to me,.......until now.

Guess who's products I'm not buying anymore?<_<

[DocWagon]

The majority of workers there are northern African and Muslim. Collective bargaining at that particular plant changed a paid off holiday.

What's the issue, again?

[mnottfam]

Sorry. I'm sick of a 51% getting to walk all over a 49% because of the reasoning..."but WE'RE THE MAJORITY!!"

As for Tyson foods on a whole, I do recall something about a MASSIVE lawsuit from the Govt. a number of years ago. Racketeering? Money Laundering? Bribing USDA officials? Now I forget. All I DO remember firmly is that Tyson has some morality issues within their management, and for that reason, for a number of years now, I don't buy Tyson. I buy someone else, or I skip the chicken that time around.

[gossman]

Sorry. I'm sick of a 51% getting to walk all over a 49% because of the reasoning..."but WE'RE THE MAJORITY!!"

As for Tyson foods on a whole, I do recall something about a MASSIVE lawsuit from the Govt. a number of years ago. Racketeering? Money Laundering? Bribing USDA officials? Now I forget. All I DO remember firmly is that Tyson has some morality issues within their management, and for that reason, for a number of years now, I don't buy Tyson. I buy someone else, or I skip the chicken that time around.

It is a contractual issue not a political or patriotic issue. As far as morality, very few corporations can be considered moral. I shy away from large corporations where food is concerned as much as possible but issues like this are not ones that concern me. It seems that many want their cake and eat it too, claiming majority when the issue concerns them, and cry tyrant, commie, etc.. when it doesn't meet their opinion. If it was not a muslim issue and they chose to eliminate the holiday for some other day we wouldn't be having this conversation.

[Mrblackguns]

I just wonder why the percentage of their workforce is so unnaturaly out of balance with the actual population of the general public,.....hmmmmm,.......interesting.

I also just heard today they are having a HUGE recall due to having been caught using "fillers" in their products not listed on the label that some people are allergic to, like soy,.........nice.;)

[gossman]

I just wonder why the percentage of their workforce is so unnaturaly out of balance with the actual population of the general public,.....hmmmmm,.......interesting.

I also just heard today they are having a HUGE recall due to having been caught using "fillers" in their products not listed on the label that some people are allergic to, like soy,.........nice.;)

Why is the agricultural workforce so out of balance with the actual population? Perhaps they are willing to do the job? Why in my area the large percentage of nursery workers are hispanic and Seventh Day Adventist? Could it be that they were all drawn for some reason? Why did a nursery owner build a giant $6,000,000 Seventh Day church for the Hispanic workers in the area, could it be that they needed one to attend? It is more than likely the work appealed to the muslim community (hey, it isn't pork products) and met a need for employment. Why are young people more aptly drawn to be baristas than a 50 year old male? I could ask silly questions all night. Again, I will write slow so that those who don't read fast understand; it came about because of a collective bargaining agreement. Not some secret plan connected to Obama to overtake and rule the United States and jail all white males while making women wear burkas and walk 20 feet behind. BTW, Labor Day was and is a communist based holiday. Corporate america would never honor workers with a paid day off.:o

[Mrblackguns]

LOL,......I love it,.....thanks Goss, you sure set me straight, now where's the koolaid? I'm thirsty!:lol:

[gossman]

LOL,......I love it,.....thanks Goss, you sure set me straight, now where's the koolaid? I'm thirsty!:lol:

It is up next to the Sweet and Low, behind the rice in the pantry. Remember....collective bargaining agreement ( a union contract) not an attack on patriotism. Fear is a powerful thing, control and learn.

[gossman]

Wikipedia definition

Collective bargaining is the process whereby workers organize collectively and bargain with employers regarding the workplace. In various national labor and employment law contexts collective bargaining takes on a more specific legal meaning. In a broad sense, however, it is the coming together of workers to negotiate their employment.
A collective agreement is a labor contract (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_and_employment_law) between an employer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employer) and one or more unions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_union). Collective bargaining consists of the process of negotiation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negotiation) between representatives of a union (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_union) and employers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employers) (represented by management (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management), in some countries by employers' organization (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employers%27_organization)) in respect of the terms and conditions of employment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employment) of employees (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employees), such as wages (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wage), hours of work, working conditions and grievance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grievance)-procedures, and about the rights and responsibilities (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_responsibility) of trade unions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_union). The parties often refer to the result of the negotiation as a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) or as a Collective Employment Agreement (CEA).

No, I don't see an attack on the american way of life here!:o

[Walkenbear]

Tyson reverses Eid al-Fitr holiday plan (http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=71828)

[gossman]

This from the above link:

"This is America, founded by the blood of our forefathers and should not be challenged by Somalians, Hispanics, or any other immigrants. If they come to America, they need to learn our language and our ways. They can practice their culture in private if they so please, but not shove it down our throats. Would they let us go there and change there country? I have banned Tyson's products from my home for years because of the illegals they were hiring. I am sorry for the producers that are supplying them, but Tyson's has once again crossed the line with the American people. Labor Day was here long before Tyson's. What holiday will be next to be taken away and replaced to accommodate an immigrant. This stinks worse than the plant," the forum participant said.

Pure ignorance. We came and destroyed cultures, added foriegn beliefs to this country, and now we dare to pontificate? Yes, we do go and force our beliefs and political system on other countries, just look at Afgananistan and Iraq. If the majority of workers want it and voted for it under a collective bargaining agreement, then why would I disagree or even care? The United States is made up of immigrants, our forefathers were immigrants. Our only true culture here in the US is the habit of damning others that do not line up with our cafeteria style religion and practices.

[Mrblackguns]

I love how much the left wingers hate America and the politics, religion, and ideals that made it great.

As note, my family is made up of immigrants and native Americans, ALL were people that became a part of the functional society that made this country and themselves successfull. Leaving their old ways behind they supported their new country and did not demand that the majority bow to their personal whims, but instead worked with the culture of the nation for their betterment and the greater good of the country and this society, instead of being squeeky wheels and boat anchors demanding focus on selfish personal issues creating more devision and isolationism in the culture of the nation.

[COBRADOC]

I love how much the left wingers hate America and the politics, religion, and ideals that made it great.

As note, my family is made up of immigrants and native Americans, ALL were people that became a part of the functional society that made this country and themselves successfull. Leaving their old ways behind they supported their new country and did not demand that the majority bow to their personal whims, but instead worked with the culture of the nation for their betterment and the greater good of the country and this society, instead of being squeeky wheels and boat anchors demanding focus on selfish personal issues creating more devision and isolationism in the culture of the nation.

Well said.

[mercdank]

so now a multi national corporation is abonding an AMERICAN holiday for some religous bull****? Fffffff**** that!

[freesw]

and turned into clubs to enforce conformity and submission to a vision of the past as it never really was, not past the first ten words (see quote). Regarding the statement "Labor Day was here long before Tyson's," what would working at Tyson's be like today were it not for organized labor? Ever read or hear of The Jungle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jungle), by Upton Sinclair? It's a novel, based largely on the realities, of late 19th century Chicago meat packing industry and working conditions. Those workers were almost all recent immigrants, many of them from eastern Europe, looked down upon in much the same way as these Africans are today. Tyson began during the 1930s, so Labor Day predates it by 35 years. The origins of Labor Day (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/september96/labor_day_9-2.html) was not a picnic.

"This is America, founded by the blood of our forefathers and should not be challenged by Somalians, Hispanics, or any other immigrants. If they come to America, they need to learn our language and our ways. They can practice their culture in private if they so please, but not shove it down our throats. Would they let us go there and change there country? I have banned Tyson's products from my home for years because of the illegals they were hiring. I am sorry for the producers that are supplying them, but Tyson's has once again crossed the line with the American people. Labor Day was here long before Tyson's. What holiday will be next to be taken away and replaced to accommodate an immigrant. This stinks worse than the plant," the forum participant said.

Something about the juxtaposition of these comments by the same "forum participant" tells me the "forum participant" isn't exactly beating down the door for a job at Tyson's plant. The kind of divisiveness expressed by this individual is precisely what weakens unions. For some, Labor Day is simply an institutionalized day off, devoid of its real significance. That's a shame, but it's a choice many do make. They just shouldn't turn around and decry how the once-sacred Labor Day ain't what it used to be. They can thank their own indifference, in many cases.

[gossman]

I love how much the left wingers hate America and the politics, religion, and ideals that made it great.

As note, my family is made up of immigrants and native Americans, ALL were people that became a part of the functional society that made this country and themselves successfull. Leaving their old ways behind they supported their new country and did not demand that the majority bow to their personal whims, but instead worked with the culture of the nation for their betterment and the greater good of the country and this society, instead of being squeeky wheels and boat anchors demanding focus on selfish personal issues creating more devision and isolationism in the culture of the nation.

In this case the majority requested the change of holiday. As far as coming here to leave the old ways, the pilgrims came here to impose their own will and religious belief. This has nothing to do with any of the "ideals" you have. And accusing "left wingers" of hating America and it's "politics, religion, and ideals that make it great" , which ones are you endorsing? Certainly not the Democratic party politics which half of voting americans are made of. How about religion? Are you refering to the reformed faith of the pilgrims? Perhaps the Southern Baptists? Or pentecostals? Of how about the mormons and J.W.'s, these are purely american is nature. And Ideals, I haven't figured this out. Which one's are those? The one where freedom of speech only applies to popular speech or speech you agree with? Or perhaps you mean where we ignore those who are less fortunate. Define please. And as far as "left wingers, who are you refering to? Me? It is a funny thing because those who actually know me think I am a pretty conservative guy, but one who gives some actual thought to things and doesn't buy the "company line". Did you know I have been a Republican since the '70's? That I am a honorably discharged Marine? That I have been married to the same woman for 29 years? That I am very involved in church, a long time member of a range, a lifetime member of the NRA, a certified firearms instructor, trained and competed with Ayoob, Cirrillo, Givens, Farnham, et al..attended and competed in the National Tactical Invitational? Is this what makes a left winger who hates America? I love America, I just do not tolerate small minded, bigoted, "religious", knee jerk baffoons who spew mindless, uninformed, triumphalism based on disinformation. I don't buy into the crap or the politics of ignorance. Please try to understand rather than react. If we spend so much time majoring on the minors, we will miss the true issues that are bent on destroying my country.:usa: I can fly a flag and mean it.

[DocWagon]

Religious freedom and the right to bargain a contract with your employer = Un-American.

Bowing to political winds and bloggers at the expense of the people you employ = American.

Got it. Thanks for the update. Sort of sounded like communism at first, where the government and political pressure sets the agreements between employer and employee when I first read it, but I get it now. Hopefully we can all get together and decide a fair wage (like we do with minimum wage) for these guys, too. Start blogging!

[freesw]

^ There you have it.

[p35bhp55]

I work for a Japanese company run by Americans and last year we didn't get a Labor day, but this year I'll get 5 days off. Why? Last year we couldn't get enough Tundras on the road and this year we can't get rid of them. Business runs on customers needs, and profit margins, I doubt they spend much time with anything else. BTW, I worked for Thorn Apple Valley meats and can tell you how this kind of company gets immigrant labor. If you can read english, have a DL, and are legal, then you get another job as fast as you can.

P.S. After reading both news items again, it seems there are only a couple hundred Muslims there, wonder why they didn'y just let them take an unpaid day off the way many companies do MLK day where it isn't a holiday?

[freesw]

December 21, 2001
Meatpackers' Profits Hinge On Pool of Immigrant Labor
By DAVID BARBOZA

The indictment of Tyson Foods Inc., the nation's largest meat processor, on charges that it conspired to smuggle illegal immigrants to work at its plants, is a sign of how dependent the American food and agriculture system has become on foreign-born workers, many of them here illegally.
Because of this heavy reliance, agriculture experts say, a major effort to crack down on the hiring of illegal workers could disrupt the nation's food industry.

''This would really cripple the system,'' said William Heffernan, professor of rural sociology at the University of Missouri who has studied immigrant labor. ''In the communities where these plants are located there isn't an alternative work force. They'd have to raise wages and improve the conditions.''

Until 15 or 20 years ago, meatpacking plants in the United States were staffed by highly paid, unionized employees who earned about $18 an hour, adjusted for inflation. Today, the processing and packing plants are largely staffed by low-paid non-union workers from places like Mexico and Guatemala. Many of them start at $6 an hour.

The shift in the economics of the food and agriculture industry has made such jobs unappealing to Americans, but highly enticing to immigrants.

Companies like Tyson, Smithfield Foods and Conagra have profited from paying low wages, pushing production lines faster and hiring workers who are much more willing to endure the hazardous conditions of a meat-processing plant, industry experts say.

''This is certainly not unique to Tyson,'' Professor Heffernan said. ''This has been around for a long time in the meat-processing industry. And employers can take advantage of these people because they can threaten to send them back.''

The companies can also benefit from high turnover, which means workers often do not qualify for insurance or vacation time.

But high turnover means the companies face constant pressure to find new workers. That pressure may have been at the heart of the actions Tyson is accused of in the indictment, which was unsealed on Wednesday in Federal District Court in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The government charged the company and six of its employees with conspiring to transport illegal immigrants across the Mexican border and help them get counterfeit work papers for jobs at more than a dozen Tyson poultry plants. The indictment said that, to meet production and profit goals, Tyson officials would contact local smugglers near its plants to get more workers.

Industry experts said it has long been believed that American food companies recruit in Mexico and knowingly hire illegal workers. Some said the companies advertise on the radio in Mexico, distribute leaflets, show videos and hire immigrant smugglers, or ''coyotes.''

Eric Schlosser, the author of ''Fast Food Nation,'' which chronicled changes in the food industry, said that the recruiting and hiring of illegal workers had been widespread for some time, and that big companies had used it to their benefit.

''For me, I don't care if those workers are from Mars,'' Mr. Schlosser said in a telephone interview. ''It's the way in which using illegals allows them to do all the other practices, like speeding up the production lines, not listening to workers and having a high turnover rate which reduces the power of the workers.''

Professor Heffernan, at the University of Missouri, said it was simple: ''It's the race to the bottom; it's just the race to the bottom. Companies started breaking the unions, moving the plants to rural areas and hiring immigrants a long time ago.''

The same foreign-born workers harvest fruits and vegetables in Florida and California, they milk cows on giant dairy farms in Wisconsin and Oregon and process and pack potatoes in Idaho.

''Immigrant labor, whether it's legal or illegal, is critical,'' said Keith Esplin, president of the Potato Growers of Idaho. ''Most Mexicans here will have papers, but the farmers won't have any idea. There is real good counterfeit stuff out there.''

Of course, because of the widespread use of counterfeit documents, no one knows for sure how many of them are working illegally. But industry and government officials say that, for better or worse, foreign-born workers are now one of the most vital elements in the American food and agriculture system.

About one million farm laborers are on the job at any one time, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. And a government study estimated that nearly 40 percent are illegal. A few years ago, the Immigration and Naturalization Service estimated that about 25 percent of meatpacking workers in the Midwest were probably illegal.

''We have enormous segments of agriculture that are critically dependent on hired farm labor,'' said Keith Collins, the chief economist at the Agriculture Department. ''They are needed, particularly for harvesting perishables, like fruits and vegetables in Florida and California.''

Asked whether many of the foreign-born migrant laborers were illegal, Mr. Collins said, Absolutely.

''It's in the hundreds of thousands,'' he said. ''No doubt.''

The government, though, has had little success in stemming the flow of illegal immigrants to food and agriculture companies. Federal raids on meatpacking plants sent many illegal workers back to their countries. But it outraged food companies, who complained of disruptions. Civil rights officials accused the government of harassing Mexicans and others from Central America. And Midwestern politicians sometimes complained that slowing down the work at meatpacking plants increased the supply of livestock and thereby harmed hog and cattle farmers, who had already been suffering from low prices for their goods.

The big meatpacking companies said today that they would work to ensure that they were not hiring illegal workers. But they have long maintained that it is a difficult thing to achieve. There is a complicated network of smugglers and a huge trade in the trafficking of fraudulent work documents.

Janet Riley of the American Meat Institute, which represents the big meat processors, said it would be hard to root out illegal immigrants because it was difficult to know how many were working at plants. The institute does not even have estimates on foreign-born workers.

''We don't know the number,'' Ms. Riley said. ''But we do know it's significant.''
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07EFD8113EF932A15751C1A9679C8B 63

[AZ-Mike]

Workers get Muslim day off this year but not in future

Workers at the Shelbyville, Tenn., plant for Tyson Foods – which boasts on its corporate website that it strives "to honor God" – will get the Muslim Eid al-Fitr as a holiday this year, but not in the future unless they choose to give up their birthday as a day off, the company announced today.

The company recently had agreed to a request from the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union to replace the traditional American workers' holiday Labor Day with the Muslim holiday that closes the fasting month of Ramadan.

But in an e-mail to WND today, officials for Tyson said Labor Day has been reinstated and Eid al-Fitr dropped after it acquired permission from the union to change the contract.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=71828

I am sure the bean counters in the back office figured out what allowing this holiday would do to the bottom line.

[RDHNTR]

In 42 years in the American work force I NEVER got veterans day off. Yet I served MY country honorably for over 3 years over 2 of which were in a combat situation. Now these religious fanatics that condone the murder of non muslems, read AMERICANS get a day off to celebrate their murderous religion. Just one more reason we MUST have a change in our national and local government officials that condone these,for want of a better word, people. As for Tyson foods they can go to hell. I eat elk and deer. Frank

[NWO]

Let's KEEP THE THREAD CIVIL Guys. :)

[gossman]

In 42 years in the American work force I NEVER got veterans day off. Yet I served MY country honorably for over 3 years over 2 of which were in a combat situation. Now these religious fanatics that condone the murder of non muslems, read AMERICANS get a day off to celebrate their murderous religion. Just one more reason we MUST have a change in our national and local government officials that condone these,for want of a better word, people. As for Tyson foods they can go to hell. I eat elk and deer. Frank

Should have had it in the collective bargaining agreement. I know several AMERICANS who happened to be muslim. Still a mute issue, a non-issue, good for complaining about nonsensical issues while real issues are ignored.

[DocWagon]

I don't remember the US gov't ever giving me a veteran's day off, come to think of it. They hate us for our freedoms.

I guess one of the best things about being both a union-member cop and a Muslim is that since I don't get holidays off I get floating "bonus" days to use instead and can get them off whenever man power allows. Since there aren't many Muslims or Jews on the department compared to Christians and Athiests, we get our holidays pretty easily. Also makes us pretty popular with guys who want to do trade days for Christmas and Easter...