Tyson: Muslim Holiday Replaces Labor Day

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. -- Workers at the Tyson Foods poultry processing plant in Shelbyville will no longer have a paid day off on Labor Day but will instead be granted the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr.

According to a news release from the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, a new 5-year contract at the plant included the change to accommodate Muslim workers at the plant.

Tyson's director of media relations Gary Mickelson said the contract includes eight paid holidays — the same number as the old contract.

...Union leaders say implementing the holiday was important for the nearly 700 Muslims, many of them Somalis, who work at the plant that employs a total of 1,200 people.

I don't think this is a big deal. It doesn't have any great significance.

Frankly, I don't know why it's a national story.

Tyson workers are getting the same number of paid holidays as in their previous contract.

As far as dropping Labor Day goes, it was what union leaders wanted. If they are happy, who cares?

It's not like Eid al-Fitr is replacing Christmas as a paid holiday.
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Election 2008 Disclaimer: Barack Obama is not a Muslim.