Sunday August 3, 2008, 8:08 am
You can't get any more unamerican then this.

Sunday August 3, 2008, 9:33 pm
I HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT WORKED FOR TYSON MANY YEARS AGO. I DON'T HAVE MUCH USE FOR THE COMPANY. I HOPE THAT WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO FAILS MISERABLY. I CAN'T SEE HOW IT CAN WORK. IT'S JUST WAY TO UNAMERICAN. TYSON DEALS WITH MORE THAN CHICKEN AND I'M SOOOOOO GLAD I WENT VEGETARIAN. JUST SAY NO TO CHICKEN, BEEF, TURKEY, PORK, ETC. ETC. ETC. FF EVERYONE DID THAT. HUMMMM TYSON WOULD BE OUT OF BUSINESS. :)

Sunday August 3, 2008, 9:37 pm
WELL, LETS TRY THIS AGAIN FIRST TIME THE COMMENT DIDN'T GO THROUGH. I HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT WORKED FOR TYSON MANY YEARS AGO. THEY DON'T TREAT THEIR WORKERS RIGHT AND I HAVE NO USE FOR THEM. WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO IS SO UNAMERICAN I DON'T SEE HOW IT WILL WORK. TYSON DEALS IN MORE THAN CHICKEN. THEY PROCESS BEEF, PORK, TURKEY TO NAME A FEW. I'M SOOOOOO GLAD I WENT VEGETARIAN. JUST SAY NO TO CHICKEN AND ALL THE ABOVE. IF WE ALL DID THAT, HUMMMM TYSON WOULD GO OUT OF BUSINESS. :)

Sunday August 3, 2008, 9:38 pm
OOPS. LOL GUESS IT DID GO THROUGH AFTER ALL. SORRY.

Monday August 4, 2008, 12:32 am
from a sane, union negotiations and worker relations perspective:

the article is too short. presumably the contract was negotiated by the worker's union - and it doesn't say what percentage of the union members are muslim, and if it isn't 100%, whether the vote to bring up the proposal to the employer required 100% yes votes, or just a majority. if there are non-muslims in the union, and the union rules only require a majority vote (not unanimity) for these decisions, then i think this isn't right (if unanimity, obviously everyone must have agreed to table it, so there's no issue). they should probably ask for a contract that gives the option of either labour day or aidil fitri, if the employer won't give both, but is willing to give something. or keep the 8 days, whatever they are, but add aidil fitri in exchange with one day less from the flexible holidays entitlement (i'm assuming tyson factory workers have some kind of flexible holidays in the contract).

that said, aidil fitri means more to muslims (whether they are citizens, white, or not) than secular holidays. not having aidil fitri off is like christians not having christmas off. for some reason i find a lot of white westerners have great difficulty putting themselves in other people's shoes. in my country (not that it's that great, but it has its good points), there are days off for every group's important days depending on population and representation per state - muslims, ethnic chinese, hindus, christians, tribal harvest festivals and buddhists. i am required to take the day off for more non-muslim holidays than for muslim holidays, and i am muslim. but nobody minds, because the others are citizens too, and our neighbours; of course they want to be with their family on their holy/cultural days. but in western countries, no matter how many citizens are non-christian, even if it's a country of immigrants and so the native population is not caucasian, there are no holidays for anyone else (except maybe hanukkah in some places), not even just one day to be with your family, yet weeks-long days off and school breaks for christian holidays like christmas and easter. not only that, there's this mixed signals. on the one hand you're told you can ask for it under the law, but when you do you get bashed. :S

Monday August 4, 2008, 2:08 am
I emigrated from Switzerland to Australia, I don't ask for special privileges or holidays. I try to become an Aussie, I am a guest here, I try to fit in and not dominate, schools, or hold onto their veils, or have own church, YOU CAN DO THAT AT HOME! Here you are in our country, and we don't want all those different churches popping up everywhere, or women with veils,or changing holidays! Fit in or stay home, don't take over!

Monday August 4, 2008, 5:11 am
Call or write to Tysons Main Office and let them know how you feel, I DID!!! Heres the address and # Tyson Foods
2210 W. Oaklawn Dr.
Springdale, AR 72762-6999 (Map)
Phone: 479-290-4000

Monday August 4, 2008, 8:12 am
I WILL CALL I MAKE SO MANY CALLS MY FINGER IS TIRED BUT I KEEP DOING IT I DO NOT BUT TYSON FOODS.............

Monday August 4, 2008, 7:33 pm
Thank you, Todd. I will let them know that I amd all of my friends will boycotting Tyson Foods.

Tuesday August 5, 2008, 8:42 am
There are reasons to boycott Tyson already, just check their history. How is this "un-American"? There are many many Muslims here, and showing respect cannot hurt. As a member of another minority religion, I think that this is a positive display of respect----from a company notorious for abusing labor and human rights (to say nothing of what they do to chickens.....

"American" does NOT mean "Christian!"

Tuesday August 5, 2008, 10:05 am
Labor day is a American Holiday!! There are different ways to show respect to the employees, then to take away a holiday that is American The Muslims can celibrate their holidays all they want and even more so if their in a more Muslim region. Tyson has already went out of their way to build them a Mosque, which with them working 7 days a week, why had they never build a church for Sunday morning worship? I never implied that to be Christian you had to be American. You read that into it yourself. I was saying that Labor Day is a American Holiday though!! Also just because you are Muslim doesnt mean you need to go around demanding special treatment just because you are. I don't go around work demanding special traetment for my faith. I go and do my job and am Thankful to be employed and take what is given to me!!