http://themilitant.com/2016/8033/803332.html
The Militant (logo)
Vol. 80/No. 33 September 5, 2016
—ON THE PICKET LINE—
Maggie Trowe, Editor
Help the Militant cover labor struggles around the world!
This column gives a voice to those engaged in battle and building
solidarity today — including miners fighting attacks on retirees’
pensions and healthcare, workers locked out by Honeywell and
construction workers demanding safe conditions. I invite those involved
in workers’ battles to contact me at 306 W. 37th St., 13th Floor, New
York, NY 10018; or (212) 244-4899; or themilitant@xxxxxxx. We’ll work
together to ensure your story is told.
— Maggie Trowe
Colorado meatpackers fired for prayer breaks win jobless benefits
DENVER — In a victory for the labor movement and a blow against
anti-Muslim attacks, the Colorado Department of Labor ruled that more
than 100 workers — fired over eight months ago from the Cargill Meat
Solutions plant in Ft. Morgan for taking Muslim prayer breaks — must
receive unemployment benefits. “No person should be expected to choose
between fidelity to their religion and their job,” the labor department
stated.
The majority of the fired meatpackers are from Somalia. For nearly a
decade Cargill had allowed workers who are Muslim to relieve each other
to pray during work. In a sudden change of policy last Dec. 15,
management told second shift workers they would no longer be allowed to
do so. Leaders of the workers tried to get the bosses to back off, but
they refused.
Over 150 workers on that shift were absent Dec. 21 to protest the
attack. Cargill fired them two days later.
When the workers filed for unemployment Cargill challenged their claims.
After losing nearly 20 appeals, the company withdrew the remaining
challenges in May. Lawyers for the workers announced the Department of
Labor ruling in early August after the deadline for appeals expired.
An Aug. 8 statement by attorneys for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations and the law firm that represented many of the workers,
welcomed the victory. “Cargill’s decision to suddenly forbid Muslim
employees from praying at work,” it said, “reveals a company embracing
odious and obvious discrimination.”
— Karen Ray
March in Richmond, Virginia, demands $15 minimum wage
RICHMOND, Va. — Over 2,000 workers from all over the U.S. marched here
Aug. 13 demanding a $15 an hour minimum wage. The demonstration capped a
two-day Fight for $15 convention.
Sandra Rubio, a McDonald’s worker from Houston, said she makes $8.25 per
hour after working there 25 years.
Marchers included child care, laundry, airport, McDonald’s and other
fast-food workers, adjunct professors and home health aides. Many
carried signs linking the fight for $15 to the fight against police
brutality.
“I was surprised to meet professors here who told me they are making
less than $15 an hour,” said Ben, an AT&T worker from Atlanta. He said
the Communications Workers of America is trying to organize wireless
phone store workers in Atlanta.
Protesters marched to the monument of Robert E. Lee, commanding general
of the pro-slavery forces in the U.S. Civil War, for a rally. “Labor
without livable wages is nothing but a pseudo form of slavery,” Rev. Dr.
William J. Barber II, president of the North Carolina NAACP, told the
crowd.
— Ruth Nebbia and Mike Galati
Related articles:
Buses ready to roll for miners’ Sept. 8 rally to defend pensions, health
care
‘Coal Miners on Strike’ shows how miners fought and won
Chilean workers demand gov't-guaranteed pensions
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home