Tyson workers revote; Labor Day brought back

Actually I think the new contract is giving both days off this year only.

Then in 2009 each worker will be able to take the 8th Holiday as kind of like a Floating Day. Taking either Labor Day or Eid-al-Fitr.

Which is fair and the way the contract should have read in the first place.

Ok My Bad after rereading the orginal days off it seems the Team Member Birthday is the one to fall by the wayside..and will become the Floating day. Which was really a Floating day anyway. Tyson Foods are now just saying the Muslim workers can take Eid-al-Fitr instead of their Birthdays.

Which is even better.

I AM STILL NOT BUYING TYSON PRODUCTS. MY TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT TO MAKE THE SOMALIAN AND ILLEGAL MEXICAN'S LIFE EASIER. WE NEED TO BE TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN FIRST. THEY WOULDN'T BE HERE, EXCEPT TYSON BROUGHT THEM HERE.

Still no more TYSON for me.

I dont like my chicken marinated in Somali poop.

YUK!

The rural area I live in has a large population of Indian immigrants. Many of these folks seem to believe that we must adapt to their culture, not the other way around. It is unfortunately commonplace here to enter a business and find the employees do not speak english to each other in the presence of customers, which is both rude and unprofessional. If someone immigrates to our country I expect them to, at a minimum, adapt to our culture and speak english in public. If that is asking too much of them, then perhaps they would be happier in their native countries.

I do not want a Balkanized America.

I suspected that Tyson would try to do something to try to help mend feelings but I feel like the citizens of our country are still getting short-changed. My husband encountered a Somalian man and he told him that George Bush had given them citiizenship. He asked my husband for some money for some food, but went to the liquor store across the highway instead.

I have been avoiding the Tyson brand for some time and will continue to do so. Tyson chicken just doesn't smell right and washing doesn't seem to help. Remember that Wal-Mart brand chicken is really Tyson. I go to Kroger and get the Amick Farms brand.

Wow. Lots of angry comments. I totally agree that they shouldn't take away an American holiday for a Muslim one. I'm glad they changed their minds, even though I'm sure it was for political reasons.

Why is everyone spewing such hatred, though? Aren't the Somalians human too? Shouldn't we treat others as we want to be treated? I understand that they can come across as rude and unfriendly, but is treating them with such hatred going to make them want to adapt to our country? This could get very political, but I'm not even talking about that. I don't agree with all of the immigration laws or all of the things immigrants get away with. But shouldn't we treat all of God's children the same? We teach our children equal rights for all races and yet we act like this. Something's not right. Just saying...

I understand everyone's concern about the Union trying to push this through. But the Somalis are in the United States legally and they have to work somewhere or your tax dollars will be supporting them more than they do now. This should not mean we should adapt to their customs or their way of life.

I understand about not buying Tyson products because their Hygiene is questionable. I have the same concerns.

I believe it is our government that is the blame for them being here. They are the ones who should put a stop to allowing them to just walk into our country and become legal citizens after being here for 5 years. So it seems our very own Government are the ones we should be yelling and screaming at.. JMO

Not living too far from the Fayetteville plant, I called them and voiced my disgust at doing away with Labor Day. I don't feel any problem with Muslims having their religious holiday but not at the expense of removing one of beloved holidays. And, this agreement seems to make alot of sense and they should have just done that to begin with. The whole U.S. is watching and although sorry you all had to go through this, it has been an important step for all everywhere to benefit from in the future. Me in Missouri

I'd like to thank Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray,Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartwright, Democratic State Rep. Curt Cobb, and Republican State Sen. Jim Tracy for standing up to Tyson for Shelbyville & Bedford County. Without their input, I don't think Tyson would have budged. People will continue to eat chicken, and Tyson will continue to hire illegials and refugees. It lowers their bottom dollar & increases their profits.

And since when did any union or union president care about employee's religious comfort? Their focus should be on safety, since Tyson is one of the most dangerous jobs in Shelbyville. The union dues these underpaid employees provide each week should be buying better working conditions. Not prayer rooms & another country's holiday.

"I understand that they can come across as rude and unfriendly, but is treating them with such hatred going to make them want to adapt to our country?"

-- Posted by msmommy on Fri, Aug 8, 2008, at 1:06 PM

When the rude SOB's reach under your hand at the grocery store to get an item that you were going to get, when they straddle the line on Depot St. and practically run you off the edge, when they slam the front of your cart with theirs at Wal-Mart to get ahead of you, when they speak their language to each other and look directly at you and laugh...

ANSWER THIS FOR ME...Is that the point where you are going to bend over backwards to be nice to them?

When your car is wrecked because of them, when your insurance goes up are you going to write them an appreciation letter for coming here?

When they touch you with their filthy hands at the grocery store and you get sick, are you going to thank them for the doctor bill that you'll receive?

It's sad to say, but if the Somalians are plucking chickens, then they aren't trying to get everybody else's job. I hope everyone realizes that if Tyson shuts down, the govt. will make sure the Somalians are trained to take other people's jobs right here in this town...maybe packing toothpaste tubes, making car parts, printing high school graduation invitations, maybe even printing baby diapers. NO WAIT...those companies aren't Union. Only the Union will help these ragheads.

BTW, I too refuse to buy Tyson meat simply because the Somalians are digustingly unclean. Unfortunately, this refusal may even put me out of a job somewhere down the road.

After reading the blogs, I am taking this stance. I will no longer use any Tyson Foods. I too process food and I know that it takes a clean setting to be certain that we don't contaminate the food, plus, I keep myself clean.

I would not eat in a place where the waitstaff is filthy, so why would I want to eat foods from a process plant, where the workers are nasty?

I also don't like to think that we as Christians are not allowed to pray in public, by saying the Lords Prayer, nor can we have the Pledge of Alliegence in schools. But they can have specially built prayer rooms?

Stand up America.

They are here in the USA and should adapt to our rules, speak our language, etc.

By the way, when 20 million mexicans came into our country, I stopped eating any foods that came from Mexico and I don't eat in their eateries.

I boycott a lot of things. If it isn't an American tradition, then I don't want it.

I WISHED T.G. WOULD CHECK OUT ALL OF THE GROWERS THAT HAVE CLOSED DOWN THEIR BARNS BECAUSE OF THE WAY TYSON HAS TREATED THEM. LOOK IN THE REALASTATE SECTION OF THE PAPER. WHY DO YOU THINK THERE ARE SO MANY SELLING THEIR BARNS? MANY ARE TIRED OF THE TREATMENT FROM TYSON!

I am proud of our elected officials. Thank you for taking the time to meet with this company and explain the concerns of our community.

they have done NOTHING except to try to quiet AMERICAN outrage over this atrocity.

steelerfan, we tried emailing you.It couldn't be delivered.

time2relax: I am not saying that the situation is ideal. It isn't. I'm not even saying that the Somalians are good, kind people. I don't know them personally. I'm just saying, look at it from their perspective. Look where they came from. How would you act if you grew up in a country like theirs? Wouldn't you take any opportunity to come to America? I'm sure alot of their attitudes and actions are wrong, but they aren't used to modern American life either. (And I'm not excusing their behavior. I just mean that the government should be working with them.)How would you deal with it, if you were dumped in a totally foreign country, where you didn't know the customs or speak the language, and everyone hated you? Of course, we're American, so we'll hopefully never have to deal with that. Obviously something needs to be done, but let's place the blame where it belongs. The government needs to help all refugees (no matter where they are from) adapt to our way of life. If they are going to bring them here, they need to follow up longterm and help them learn our culture and how to deal with Americans. I'm sure you'll have an argument for this too, but I said IF they are bringing them here. I'm also not saying you should "bend over backwards to be nice to them." I'm just saying treat them like human beings, not invite them over for dinner.

Hey Folks:

Looks like we are making a difference, huh? However

like baseball, it's not over until the last out of the 9th inning.

"*I dont care what day they give off. I wont be eating another product from TYSON. Why do we have to have people from other countries in here in the first place. If they would purge the welfare and food stamp roles they could get plenty of labor. A a business owner I recently ran a advertisment for office help. Most people showed up in jeans, shorts, t-shirts and flip flops.

I sound like my grandmother but from the looks of the people that walked in and wanted a job.....this country is headed to hell in a handbasket.

-- Posted by ANOTHEROPINION on Fri, Aug 8, 2008, at 3:35 PM*"

Why do we need people from other countries here? Well, let me tell you. America, as a post-industrial economy, is in heavy need of cheap labor. You see, Americans in general focus heavily on their careers as a symptom of said post-industrialism (which means we procreate less, but hold that thought for later). People who focus heavily on their careers tend to not work in general labor type of positions (id est packing food at Tyson). There are exceptions among certain demographics, but for the most part these exceptions do not meet America's need for cheap labor.

You, as a consumer, demand this cheap labor because you probably shop at Wal-Mart, which provides cheap products as part of its draw to get you to come in and spend your money (note I am not making assumptions about you; its just very highly statistically likely since you are posting on t-g.com and probably live in Shelbyville. Even still, almost every other shopping market or grocery store emulates Wal-Mart's business model, and those are the only sort of establishments in Middle Tennessee outside of small parts of Nashville, so any argument against this is a moot point). And, while you demand this cheap labor, you, and very few of your fellow citizens, provide it, as you are not satiated by the low wages that cheap labor provides.

So, since we live in a mostly capitalist society, this cheap labor will come from the most able source--in this case, Somalians who have come to America seeking a better life with the help of very charitable (but imperfect) organization(s) in Nashville. To them, the kind of money they can make at a factory packaging food is substantially better than, well, severe economic upheaval or, in the case of Somalia at present, an ongoing war with Ethiopia (that has roots in Europe's parsing of Africa during the Colonial period up until now).

Now then, speaking in broader terms, since we, as Americans, generally procreate less as part of our career-fixation and our participation in post-industrialism, that means that our economy would shrink without this influx of cheap labor from foreign countries.

In other words, you should be ecstatic that these people want to come here; it means that you can get things at much cheaper prices and that they get to live free from fear of genocide and evil warlords.

As for your statement regarding people showing up in jeans and flip-flops and how this signifies America is going to, as you so eloquently wrote, "hell in a handbasket," all I can say is that anecdotal evidence is not evidence at all, and that maybe you should consider writing "Business Casual Attire Required" in your next job listing.

"*I boycott a lot of things. If it isn't an American tradition, then I don't want it.

-- Posted by UnDumbed on Fri, Aug 8, 2008, at 3:27 PM*"

So you don't enjoy the banjo (an African instrument that is a hallmark of the Grand Ole Opry), Bluegrass (Sotch-Irish), Jazz (African and European), any guitar music (Indian), or even any country music at all (which is, of course, African, Celtic, and Irish to name only a few), watch baseball (Scottish or Romanian, depending on who you talk to) or football (British), eat okra (African), sauerkraut (that one's easy), hamburgers (even easier), French/freedom fries (better known as "pommes frites" to the Belgians who created them) or hot dogs (hint: same origin as sauerkraut and hamburgers)?

"*Do you honestly believe that the Middle Eastern countries would give us our religious holidays? So why are we giving them theirs? Good God, people...what is happening to our country? If we as a nation do not stand up for our country and our American rights, we will become instinct. If the black man can have a million man walk on Washington D.C. to bring their plight to the attention of our government, then the American citizen can walk on Washington D.C. and make it know to our government that we, as a nation, are not going to sit back and let this happen to us. God Bless America!

-- Posted by LizzyD on Fri, Aug 8, 2008, at 2:38 PM*"

What are you going to protest? The fact that about 250 workers in a plant in Tennessee wanted to be able to celebrate a holiday important to them, just like every other religious group in the United States? After all, a lot of our current holidays have religious roots. What makes them so special that no other faith can have their own? The fact that your religion specifically says that anyone else of any other faith is going to hell? I'm sorry to inform you of this, but the government (and as a result, corporations) don't care what your religion says, because the people who chartered this country decided that anyone could practice their faith however they wanted to so long as they didn't impede on anyone else's ability to practice theirs, especially if it was different.

"*Only the Union will help these ragheads.

BTW, I too refuse to buy Tyson meat simply because the Somalians are digustingly unclean. Unfortunately, this refusal may even put me out of a job somewhere down the road.

-- Posted by time2relax on Fri, Aug 8, 2008, at 2:09 PM*"

When you toss around religious/racial epithets like that you cannot hope to be taken seriously and you definitely aren't going to find any kind of sympathy from anyone with any kind of intelligence.

"*I'd like to thank Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray,Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartwright, Democratic State Rep. Curt Cobb, and Republican State Sen. Jim Tracy for standing up to Tyson for Shelbyville & Bedford County. Without their input, I don't think Tyson would have budged. People will continue to eat chicken, and Tyson will continue to hire illegials and refugees. It lowers their bottom dollar & increases their profits.

And since when did any union or union president care about employee's religious comfort? Their focus should be on safety, since Tyson is one of the most dangerous jobs in Shelbyville. The union dues these underpaid employees provide each week should be buying better working conditions. Not prayer rooms & another country's holiday.

-- Posted by bebop on Fri, Aug 8, 2008, at 1:49 PM*"

Yes, people are going to continue to eat Tyson's chicken because its cheap. People want cheap things. A company like Tyson could care less if their products are cheap or not; they only want what is profitable. If smacking you over the head with a bag of frozen chicken was the most profitable thing on Earth, they would do it. Why do people not understand basic economics?

Because consumers want to buy cheap food and because they do not understand that cheap food actually comes at a bigger price, they will continute to buy it. To paraphrase Ice T, don't hate the player, hate the game.

Also, I suggest you not throw accusations around about Tyson's working conditions; I highly doubt you have information to any kind of statistics on that (if you do and you are posting about them on a news' story comment thread, then Tyson really needs to re-evaluate who they give access to those things) and spouting off about things of which you know nothing can really open you up to some severe legal consequences.

"*I believe it is our government that is the blame for them being here. They are the ones who should put a stop to allowing them to just walk into our country and become legal citizens after being here for 5 years. So it seems our very own Government are the ones we should be yelling and screaming at.. JMO

-- Posted by Dianatn on Fri, Aug 8, 2008, at 1:12 PM*"

No, blame the fact that you and everyone you know buy products from companies that have one goal: make it cheap. So, if you buy from places that, you know, focus on making it right, or making it without discriminating, or making it without hurting anyone, you might actually get what you want. The less you pay for something means the more streamlined the company is that made it, which means the less they give back to the local economy, which means the less that does anything for anyone you know or even yourself.

Case in point, when local citizens rebuffed Border's Bookstore's attempt to compete with locally owned and operated bookstores in Austin, Texas, a study done by Civic Economics showed that 100$ spent at Border's meant only 13$ went back into the local economy, while 100$ spent at the other locally owned and operated businesses meant that 43$ dollars went back into the local economy.

http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/me...

"*I think this is Tyson's way of quieting the public. I have a feeling next year when everyone has forgotten it, when they go back to 8 paid holidays...Eid al-Fitr will still replace a national holiday. If they want to make it in addition to the other holidays, go ahead...just don't take away holidays when no one is looking...All the same, too little too late for me. I still have no intentions to let any Tyson's food products in my home. They have proved to be too loyal to illegals (and I believe illegal activity to employ) in the past and now this? I don't think so.

-- Posted by CD on Fri, Aug 8, 2008, at 11:46 AM*"

I want you to think about what I am about to say. I want you to read it a few times and then mull it over and then read my explanation below.

You are why people are so concerned about being politically correct and you are why people say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas."

Now, I hope you did what I said. My explanation: You, jumping down the throat of anyone about what holiday is given (or the name of the holiday at that) create public relations nightmares for companies. They walk on such eggshells because of people like you who are ready to fire up the electronic type writer that's hooked up to the phone line so quick over the slightest infraction. There may come a day when most holiday work schedules read "Holiday 1, Holiday 2, Holiday 3, etc."

"*I do not want a Balkanized America.

-- Posted by nraendowment on Fri, Aug 8, 2008, at 11:35 AM*"

What an ignorant statement. I suppose you are assuming that the Balkans are the way they are because of a bunch of immigrants moving to a place for better opportunities?

I mean, that's unfortunate, because you are completely disregarding the fact that this region has been a crossroads of Eastern and Western civilizations for thousands of years, acting as the mixed border region between the Latin and Hellenistic halves of the Roman Empire, as well as Orthodox Christianity, Catholic Christianity (which I am sure you have no use for as well), and also Islamic culture.

If you are referring to the numerous problems that the Balkans have faced in recent years, that is primarily a product of centuries as a battleground for the Ottoman Empire, something which encompasses a lot of complicated history which has nothing to do with some immigrants coming to Tennessee to pack some chicken.

"*I AM STILL NOT BUYING TYSON PRODUCTS. MY TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT TO MAKE THE SOMALIAN AND ILLEGAL MEXICAN'S LIFE EASIER. WE NEED TO BE TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN FIRST. THEY WOULDN'T BE HERE, EXCEPT TYSON BROUGHT THEM HERE.

-- Posted by bcar on Fri, Aug 8, 2008, at 10:15 AM*"

Then stop paying taxes. Do it.

I am still infuriated over this issue, because of the following statement in the article:

"The RWDSU believes that this is an important sign of respect of deeply held religious beliefs."

If Tyson's is so concerned with respecting "deeply held religious beliefs", then why don't they give the Christian employees Good Friday as a paid holiday? And, do some employees work on Easter? If so, they should receive Easter as a paid holiday!! This is AMERICA, so they need to respect the religious beliefs of the AMERICAN people!!!!! Oh, and by the way, when are they going to fork out the money to build a chapel for the Christians to pray in?

My comment is to silver.Tyson doesnt need any growers,the USDA inspectors do that for them,because USDA down there is corrupt too.that is a conflict of interest if i ever saw one.How can we be sure that our chicken is safe and healthy when the USDA is involved in the profits of Tyson.the USDA are supposed to be government employees,making sure Tyson's chicken products are safe for consumers.That cant happen when the USDA is involved with profits.DONT FORGET Tyson was just put on probation a few years back for bribing USDA officials.

"*I am not sure what your statement has to do with the Somalis working for Tyson Foods. They do not make less money than any other Tyson employee. So having them working for Tyson Foods does not Streamline anything. It is not a cost cutting measure. It all goes back into the lap of our Government for paying employers to hire refugees. If Tyson Foods was not getting the Government Kickbacks would they hire Somalis? Heck No! Why would you hire someone who demands special privileges, has No knowledge of working inside a factory and has limited English speaking skills. Unless someone (our Government) was paying them to do so.

-- Posted by Dianatn on Fri, Aug 8, 2008, at 6:32 PM*"

Somalians will actually do the work and are easier to keep employed; they have a higher retention rate than other employees and thus, training costs are lower and HR has to spend less time trying to fill more positions. I have worked staffing similar positions and believe me, having a dependable, core group of workers who show up and work well together is a dream. Moreover, it is harder to fill these positions with any other demographic at this payrate. If these positions paid 20$ an hour we would not be having this discussion.

Tyson is a for-profit entity, not a thinly-veiled welfare program. If you have proof that they are getting some kind of government subsidy to employee certain people, then please post it here. Otherwise, I will disregard your baseless speculation.

"*Calm down there, whysohateful on Fri, Aug 8, 2008, at 5:49 PM

Seems like you rushed out there to rebuke everything anyone has said. Look it over.... You might be able to answer your own questions.

People are just sick of letting everyone else jump in line in front of them. Ask once in a while.

But, I feel that Scot-Irish people were here long ago and yes, I think they are a part of the American Tradition.

No, I don't watch baseball, could care less about their plight.

African's were brought here mostly because their own people sold them into slavery. I have never met anyone that owns a slave today, nor in their past.

Indian's were here. The are a part of the American Tradition.

But now that you have repramanded all of us- Don't you feel better? It still will not make me buy Tyson Foods and I don't shop Walmart.

-- Posted by UnDumbed on Fri, Aug 8, 2008, at 6:50 PM*"

No, Africans were not brought here primarily because their own people sold them into slavery. Again, you show your ignorance toward basic history. To say that Africans sold each other into slavery is like saying that Europeans killed millions of their own people during World War II; it completely ignores the complex relations between groups and nations of people, and simply lumps all of them together. Africa is a continent with many nations and ethnicities, just like Europe, and, much to your chagrin, America.

However, that is not even the point of the post. It was to just show you that there are a lot of things that are part of the American tradition that are from other cultures. Also, by your metric, Scottish and Irish people have been here a long time, so they are American to you now. However, Somalians have not been here long enough, therefore they are not American. Is this accurate? So, do we get to say to the Somalian people who tough it out and stick around a few decades that they are finally American?

Also, when I say Indian I am talking about people from India, not Native Americans.

If you are interested in having a real discussion, then please keep responding to me and I will to you. However, if you want to keep telling me to calm down or accuse me of reprimanding people (I call it educating and combating narrow-minded simpleness), then I will ignore you.

If Tyson Foods does not get employment subsidy for hiring Somalis then why do they bend over backwards to hire them and accommodate them.

Don't give me the crap they are doing a job nobody else will do because we all know that is utter BS. Tyson Foods has been in Shelbyville for as long as I can remember and the Somalis have been here, How long? They have always managed to run when they had nothing but American's living in Shelbyville. Other Factories seem to find people to work in their businesses without refugees or illegals. Is Tyson that bad of a place to work that people won't work there? I know several people who have worked for Tyson Foods their entire lives and they, my friend, could fill your ears full.

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/poli...

whysohateful,

Please email me at darrick_04@yahoo.com so you and I can discuss this and other issues in a calm, open minded and rational way.

It is good to see a rational mind amongst the clutter of pure misunderstanding and hatred.

standupbeford@ymail.com doesnt seem to be a working email address.

Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently:

standupbeford@ymail.com

Technical details of permanent failure:

Google tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected by the recipient domain. We recommend contacting the other email provider for further information about the cause of this error. The error that the other server returned was: 554 554 delivery error: dd This user doesn't have a ymail.com account (standupbeford@ymail.com)

This is still not good enough, there is no atonement here from tysons foods and the management. The only way they can make this right is to give all the christian organizations a holiday, to include the baptist, church of christ, lutherins, catholics, christ church, 7th day adven, church of christ, and many many more.

The management of tysons are some slick characters and have been at it for years. The next thing that the somalis will want is a day off a week and try to say they are being discriminated against for we supposely getting sunday off, in which we should for sunday is gods day, but we don't for management threatening us with our jobs if we don't show up for work. Its time our elected officials stopped worrying about that all mighter dollar and stooping to any level to get it and get back to the principles of live with god first, we need god in our schools, work place and particularly in our government offices, without him we are nothing. The heck with these folks that don't believe, if we stand for nothing we'll fall for anything, so christians stand up and let your voice be heard, be proud, not hateful, just down right demanding. Amen These words are from a proud retired veteran serving our great nation in iraq in support of the military, not selling it out.

Tommy N. Hay Sr.

AMC LSE MRAP

Bldg 1010 Bagdad

APO AE 09342

as for me and my family we will stop buying Tyson products. What about a holiday for chickens since every one else gets one.

The good citizens of Shelbyville and Bedford County don't react very favorably to "CHANGE" as evidenced by the comments here. Just wait until the voters in their wisdom elect Barack Hussein Obama as their President; wonder what "CHANGE"(s) we'll be dealing with then?!

The change of direction at Tyson is nothing to be applauded. The fact that they would even entertain the notion of giving in to the pressures of a select few is deplorable. Redoing what was done does not change the fact that they were willing to sacrifice

American (not even religious) traditions and the goodwill of the community in which they are located.

For my part, I will continue with my refusal to ever purchase any product that is in any way associated with Tyson Foods.

Thank you, to our elected officials, for hearing our voice. Thank you for keeping our American holiday American.

The rest of you... I think you are the people that can never be pleased. If they were to send every foreigner back to where they came from, you would complain about something else.

Why don't you use your energy for something more effective such as keeping your kids off drugs. Your kids are perfect and already educated? That's great... there are plenty of children who aren't. Why don't you start an outreach program or something to help those that are not as smart as you and your kids.

Furthermore... Yall have run this topic into the ground. I, for one, am sick of listening to all the griping. Tysons reconsidered it's proposal. That was what started this anyway. Now let it go. Get on with your lives.

Want to get chrisitianity back into schools? Start at home. I am sure that no one at the schools would mind you going in at your child's lunch break and praying with them. School is a place we send our children to learn, not a daycare.

If I offended anyone with my comments... too bad, this is America and I am exercising my right to freedom of speech.

Yep, just wait until His High Holiness, Most Merciful Messiah Barack Hussein Obama is the Official Leader of the Free World!

In his own words:

From Audacity of Hope: 'I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.'

tgreader - I don't think there are a lot of companies left who formally offer Easter or Good Friday as "official" holiday's any longer. The last personal employer I asked why not - they explained it is because they are considered "religious" holiday's - go figure:)

There isn't anyone in this country, except for the indigenous tribes, whose family didn't come from somewhere else, so all the hate towards "foreigners" that appears in these posts is misplaced and idiotic. You're all foreigners, deal with it. Your families came here and took jobs just like the Somalis who work for Tyson today.

For all of the rednecks who are hyperventilating about their "traditions" (you conveniently forget that religious tolerance was intended to be an authentic American tradition, and you have no problem betraying it) and complaining about special treatment for Muslim workers, you might want to read the article a bit closer because the plant workers used to, still do, and will continue to have Christmas as a paid holiday. Maybe you were unaware, but Christmas is a Christian religious holiday. There is no reason to get bent out of shape because Muslim workers would like a paid day off to celebrate their faith. This is not some secret widescale assault on Christianity or America. Some people are just a little too narrow-minded to realize that.

It's a shame that these are the kinds of things that actually get people motivated to contact their elected officials -- so that they can work to eliminate a paid day off for people of a different religion. That's fantastic (sarcasm intended) -- very un-American if you ask me.

The real American ideal is that there are no "others" in America -- no "other countries'" holidays, "other people's" religions, "other cultures'" customs. In America, there are many holidays, religions, and customs, but none of them are "ours" or "theirs". There are no "foreigners" (unless you're a member of an indigenous tribe, in which case, nobody bothered to convert to your language or customs when they moved here); there are just recent immigrant families and less-recent immigrant families.

All of the intolerance and backwards thinking in these messages is disturbing. Very few of you people who are decrying a paid day off for Eid-al-Fitr actually use Labor Day to celebrate Labor. Many of you sit on your arse, drink a six pack, and watch football. So stop pretending like your protecting your so-called "American" values when you're really just closeminded racists or xenophobes.

If you celebrate Labor Day (you actually go out and show support for working people on that day), then maybe you had a legitimate reason to complain that Tyson didn't keep Labor day in addition to adding Eid-al-Fitr from the beginning. But since I'm confident that most of the people who are spewing this garbage (about what is or is not "American" and what are or are not "our" traditions) don't do anything remotely civic-minded on their Labor Day, I have to say that your "pride" in what has been accomplished here is revolting.

Are we "SLOW LEARNERS" or what?

Theodore Roosevelt on Immigrants

"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

I am proud that so many people finally spoke up and demanded change. I am proud of the elected officials that took action and the news shows that covered this problem. Let the bleeding hearts call you bigots, they are the true anti-Americans. America has always been a melting pot, but when is enough, enough? The misconception that Americans don't want to work or something like that is so untrue. My biggest question is why does out country need to bring in foreigner workers and why does so many companies still get away with hiring illegal workers instead of Americans? If the American people would fax, call or write letters to the President, Congress, their states elected Senators, Governors, Mayors and would complain loud and strong on a regular basis, we might get laws passed forcing companies to have to check a person's legal right to work before hiring them. Our voices and the will of the people can and should be heard all the way to Washington, this is the American way after all.

I do not hate people from other countries. I do understand why so many come here or want to come. The question is why is America expected to absorb so many? Why are we expected to support so many countries and so many poor people from those countries? I am not saying we should not help at all, but what about our poor, homeless, elderly and forgotten? What about all the returning Vets? Tell Tyson to hire Americans, tell them to put cleanliness first. Anyone wiping their butt with their hands should not be working with our food supply! That is so disgusting that I can't even look at Tyson food now! Yuk!

I will personally boycott by not buying Tyson foods until they clean up their act.

This is America folks, wipe you butt with toilet paper and then wash your hands with soap and hot water for no less than 30 seconds! This is 2008, America hello! You are not out in the desert anymore; there is running hot water and soap. Take a bath often and use deodorant for a change, your smell is offensive! If you want to live in this country, learn our customs and abide by the American way and if you don't like our ways too bad, we belong here so if you don't like us or our ways, you're welcome to go back to the impoverished war torn life you came from. Don't butt in line, we all want to be in the front but we all have learned to wait for our turn. If you want folks to like you, act like you are likable.

As for you bleeding hearts, maybe you should go live with the Muslims or go fight along side of our wonderful men and women in the military in Iraq and Afghan. There was a time that I did not care one way or another about Muslims, not now. No way do I think that every Muslim wants us dead nor do they all believe in terrorism, but I do believe that they would like to change the world and have all people believe as they do and to convert to their religion. I will not ever become a Muslim, nor will I stand by and say nothing, nor will I stand still and be quite if they try to change our laws to allow them to practice Shira law. I will not help those who would help the Muslims destroy my beloved country, one way or another; I think that I am not alone here. All of these comments that have been made here, is the coming realty of America. We are sick and tired of not speaking up and not taking a stand on what is right for America. Speak out, let your voice be heard, let your votes count! This does not make you or me a bigot!

Tyson's problem is just the tip! I think we have had enough of of this nonsense.

I didn't read it that way Momof3 although I could have misread it:

The orginal Holidays were

1)The Team Member's birthday 2) New Year's Day,

3)Martin Luther King Jr. Day 4) Memorial Day

5)Independence Day 6) Thanksgiving Day and

7) Christmas Day, with Labor Day being the 8th paid Holiday which they were replacing with Eid al-Fitr

Now the new paid days are:

1)New Year's Day 2)Martin Luther King Jr. Day

3)Memorial Day 4)Independence Day 5)Labor Day

6)Thanksgiving 7)Christmas Day and 8)Eid al-Fitr or Personal Holiday upon an employee's request.

If these new days are accurate then the day Tyson employees lost was their Birthday which is different for every employee anyway. But from the way the new contract reads it does not have to be your birthday now they can take any day as your personal day.

This year though they are getting nine paid days meaning if Tyson employees decide to take their extra day say at Christmas they are allowed to do so.

But that is just the way I read it I could be wrong though

If it is the way you describe Dianatn., then that would be much better. I was a bit confused of what was actually going to take place, that's why I wanted Brian to explain that section a little more.

I think our Federal Officals should have to answer for this mess,and face charges of being unamerican.

I thought Kennedy's suggestion was foolish when he wanted to sell an American citizenship. I can just see Castro sending him $2500 dollars.

Here comes Bush give them away just to live here for five years now really Mr. Bush did you have to do him one better?

You can see neither party is concerned about the citizens who work, and live here. We are suppose to do away over 200 years of traditions just so big Business can gain more profits by importing more workers who will work for less, or move to other Countries because Daddy Bush removed the import duties when he was in office.

Supposed to promote free trade. Yes American"s Jobs.

Where were the Union Officals then?

This year I will do a protest Vote, I intend to vote for the Independent Party candidate.

Still not sure either one of the other two parties candidates are truley Americans, from their statements by mouth, and their votes in the American Senate.

Now I have just used one of our freedoms, that may soon be gone, if it is left up to our officals and big business.

All the Somali workers seem to have left the Tyson plant in Emporia,Kansas.I'm told the prayer room is gone there- "That's all tore out and gone" is how my sources put it.

-- Posted by blulitespecial on Mon, Aug 11, 2008, at 12:20 AM

Where did they go? Is the Tyson Food plant still running in Emporia? Seems to me it is a waste of money to build prayer rooms for people who do not intend on staying.

>>Is everyone happy now? - The Somalias get Labor Day and Tyson whole fryers are on sale at Kroger this week for $.99 per pound, limit 4.<<

I don't care if they Give them away..I still don't want them.

My blood still runs red, white, and blue. Tyson sold out Americans who have helped them become the successful company they are today by buying their products. This entire episode has not only left a bad taste in my mouth, but it stinks to high heaven, just about as badly as the waste water from Tyson's processing plant and the stench of the Tyson breeding barns on a hot summer day. I can't help but wonder how bad all this rotting chicken will smell after it lays in the grocer's cooler unpurchased by loyal Americans. Perhaps Tyson's long-range planning committee might consider changing over to processing goats and sheep to satisfy the demands of their newly formed customer base.

This is an unbelievable hot bed issue.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO LIVE HERE...we have a GREAT opportunity in the next 3 weeks to protest during the Celebration.

White shoe polish "BOYCOTT TYSON" on your rear window.

Write BOYCOTT TYSON on white stickers and leave them on the shelves in Walmart, Kroger and Dollar General. Dollar General- thank you for listening to my complaints and putting an alternative chicken product on your shelf, Raeford (NC)chicken. Everyone, support Dollar G for being a good citizen...

If you have a couple bucks, put boycott Tyson on a T-shirt when you go to a large gathering.

Don't be afraid or ashamed, this IS AMERICA.

And kudos Commiss Ray for the cohones to do SOMETHING. YOU know that the "get rid of Tyson- in Shelbyville" movement is growing. Tyson IS the reason that low wage jobs are ALL that will ever come here. Until they close and leave, we cannot attract the industries that hire college grads and bring better paying and middle class type companies. As a property tax payer here, I resent and am angry at ANY accomodation for ANY religion that is made at my expense unless ALL religions are treated absolutely equally.

GET TYSON OUT OF BEDFORD COUNTY NOW.....

I am just waiting for the article to come up again that the demise of the horse show would be the demise of Shelbyville. Last year we were saturated with that ideology from the newspaper and it was a brilliant example of editorial commercialism.

I never imagined they would use the same philosophy to say the same for Tyson's also.

well well here we are everyone complaining again first i agree with all if you that stated this is american live here obey our laws rules etc but we all need to think of what im going to say the main word nobody seems to see is CONTROL thats what our gov wants to do is CONTROL us how do they do that well they (the GOVT) have pitted 1 american from another 1. i can remeber when every sun we went to church then to grandma's house for sunday dinner everyone cam uncles aunts cousins etc. hardly anyone does that 2. used to help your neighbor how many of us even know our neighbor or as much help him or her ( not many ppl can you ask to borrow a cup of sugar etc) 3 we are a ME ME ME society as long as i got to bad for you you must be lazy 4 ppl kids teens youth have forgotten or dont know what it is to have to fight for what is truely correct out WWII vets are dying hundreds a day if not more 5 hoiliday really thats be honest with ourselves look on thankgiving look how many eaterys are open and walmarts and dept stores etc again thats would be us the ppl wanting that would it look at christmas it just unbeleiveable how many stores foodchains grocery store etc are open now it seems to me if there wasnt enough ppl to shop who would open up on these days hmm 6 wages the older ppl of this great fine grand country fought gave up held together so all ppl could survive but these days we dont care one way or another about what he or she has as long as ME and ME only have

so we let these big companys come in take over our citys towns states countys under the thought its grand for the area it is until they either do away with higher wages because and opted to using lower wages and forgeiners to supply their goods as we sit back and be controlled and yes whom ever you are have a fault in this i can remember in the day when buying something from china was cheap none working wasnt worth 2 farts in the wind and now everything is from china mexico etc so when we want to blame blame the ppl for the ppl of the ppl control stand up take your blame as well as me and everyother american until we decide we arent animals peasants 2nd class ppl we will have to live this way look on the road how many fogein cars yes even here in shelbyville tn and the ppl say oh they are so much better cheaper etc bs there are only so many ways to build a car and oh yes even though its made in tn or the usa the profits go where of to that companys main country bank not here so stand up clap your self as your the only one fighting for america which we all arent we are fighting for ourselfs and the word being controlled thanks

I agree with others, if you want to stay in the U.S.A. then you should learn to speak English. English is our official language, 'learn it!'

My main concern with people coming to the U.S.A. from other countries is the disease they may bring with them. The U.S.A. has been vaccinating for many years and had most of the diseases under control. I know that school age children are still vaccinated but what about all the adults that are moving in from other countries?

Maybe the U.S.A. should consider going back the health cards for anyone working around or preparing foods. That would at least get a few of them.

Maybe they could set up a clinic at the post office and vaccinate the Mexicans, go to the local hotels & quick markets for the Indians, and a free clinic at Tyson's to vaccinate the Somalia's.

Well, this is my feelilngs on the whole situation and if it offends anyone, you will be ok. We as Americans have a hard enough time as it is with our already messed up country. First, they take GOD out of the schools and now they are teaching our children about mahammad. They need to realize that this is the United States and Americans run this place, not them. If they want a holiday to celebrate, GO HOME and don't come back. I can't believe a place such as tyson even has a prayer room set up for them in the plant. Next time you see one of these people, give them a big thumbs up. I WILL NEVER buy or eat TYSON products again. They are a disgrace to the American population.

Maybe you can't say it but I can, LEAVE LEAVE LEAVE.

One more valid point.

The union, which everyone is crucifying, re-voted and had Labor Day put back in its place as a standard paid holiday. They also instated a new, extra paid holiday FOR EVERYONE to use at their discretion. This is favorable to all employees. If anything, everyone working there who isn't Muslim should be thanking the employees that you have been treating like terrorists and the corporation (Tyson) that was attempting to establish fair working conditions for a new religious population. WHY? Because this later lead to an even more balanced environment, where employees can take one paid day off for anything, from your alternative religion to a family members birthday, and what's best is that no one has to know why you're taking, therefore there is no statement to make.

WOW, it is almost as if you didn't even think of the positive results this dispute has provided. Almost like you didn't want to.