Tuesday, September 16, 2008
 Members of A shift andB shift protest outside Grand Island City Hall Monday Sept. 15, after walking out of the JBS Swift & Co. when they were denied time to pray during the Muslim holy time of Ramadan.
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GRAND ISLAND — Amid protesting for the right to pray at work, no Muslim workers at the JBS Swift & Co. meatpacking plant in Grand Island have been fired, company officials said Monday night.
"An issue has arisen at our Grand Island facility regarding the sunset prayer during Ramadan and the timing for our second-shift lunch break," JBS spokeswoman Tamara Smid said.
About 500 Swift workers, all Muslim and mostly of Somali background, walked off the job Monday afternoon and marched a mile to Grand Island City Hall carrying handmade signs in a call for religious freedom.
One woman worker said she was kicked by a supervisor when she attempted to pray. Another woman said she was followed into the bathroom by a supervisor when she attempted to pray there.
Smid said the company is seeking assistance on how to address the issue.
"Area religious leaders have been notified that restrictions regarding these breaks prevent us from precisely accommodating requests for an evening prayer break," she said. "It is our understanding that these leaders will notify employees."
"An issue has arisen at our Grand Island facility regarding the sunset prayer during Ramadan and the timing for our second-shift lunch break," JBS spokeswoman Tamara Smid said.
About 500 Swift workers, all Muslim and mostly of Somali background, walked off the job Monday afternoon and marched a mile to Grand Island City Hall carrying handmade signs in a call for religious freedom.
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The workers said they have been unable to pray during their holiest month, Ramadan, which occurs on Sept. 1 through 30 this year.One woman worker said she was kicked by a supervisor when she attempted to pray. Another woman said she was followed into the bathroom by a supervisor when she attempted to pray there.
Smid said the company is seeking assistance on how to address the issue.
"Area religious leaders have been notified that restrictions regarding these breaks prevent us from precisely accommodating requests for an evening prayer break," she said. "It is our understanding that these leaders will notify employees."
Asha Abdi tells the story of how a supervisor kicked her feet when she knelt to pray at JBS Swift & Co. Grand Island plant. Abdi, who is Muslim, was told she couldn't pray and was told to go home. A group of 500 Muslim workers, including members of both the A shift and B shift walked off the job Monday Sept. 15, 2008 and staged a protest after being denied time to pray during Ramadan.
A similar prayer conflict arose at JBS's plant at corporate headquarters in Greeley, Colo. Smid said about 100 employees there were fired, but that action has not occurred in Grand Island.
"At this time, we have taken no disciplinary action and no employees have been terminated," Smid said of the Grand Island plant.
A similar prayer conflict arose at JBS's plant at corporate headquarters in Greeley, Colo. Smid said about 100 employees there were fired, but that action has not occurred in Grand Island.
"At this time, we have taken no disciplinary action and no employees have been terminated," Smid said of the Grand Island plant.
Source: The Grand Island Independent, Sept 16, 2008