Labor Day, who needs it? What we need is a mandatory religious holiday instead!
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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."
I submitted the following letter to
Tyson Customer Service
I have read about your company's decision to drop Labor Day in favor of granting workers a day off for a religious observation instead. (story at http://www.wsmv.com/news/17063986/detail.html#-) From a very short search online, Labor Day is defined as a Federal holiday, and a state holiday observed by all 50 US States.
So the way it appears is that Tyson Foods has opted to ignore a Federal/State holiday in favor a religious holiday, and mandated it for all workers, irrespective of the particular religious affiliation of the workers. This smacks of religious preference, in a country that is founded on religious choices and freedom of religion.
This country is also founded on free trade and nearly all US businesses adhere to the standard "the customer is always right".
This customer is choosing to never again purchase any Tyson products because of your company's decision to favor a minority religious holiday over a federal and state holiday. I have a feeling I will not be the only consumer making this decision.
If you look at the comments at the end of the news story, alot of people indicate they will not be buying Tyson chicken any more either. Unfortunately there are alot of ugly comments included in the "discussion". Name calling and slurs don't really add much to the "logical" debate of Tyson's decision.
Maybe I'll just have an big ol' greasy serving of bacon the next time I have an urge for chicken.