UNION: SWIFT RENEGED ON A RAMADAN DEAL

This is company's second clash over Muslim holiday

Joanne Kelley, Lisa Ryckman, Rocky Mountain News, 9/12/08



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 wants his or her job back, the United Food and Commercial Workers also will 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…



Immigrant-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 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. (MORE)