CAIR to Outline Talks with Cargill About Walkout by 200 Colorado Muslim Workers Over Prayer Dispute

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Later today, representatives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) from Minnesota and Washington, D.C., will hold a news conference in Colorado to announce the results of ongoing efforts to resolve a walkout last week by some 200 Muslim workers at Cargill Meat Solutions in Fort Morgan, Colo., over a religious accommodation request involving prayer. [NOTE: Cargill employs 155,000 workers in 68 countries.]

CAIR and the Muslim workers say the prayer accommodation request has been handled in a discriminatory manner by plant managers.

SEE: Cargill Employees Walk Out of Fort Morgan Plant Monday
http://www.fortmorgantimes.com/fort-morgan-business/ci_29296125/cargill-employees-walk-out-fort-morgan-plant-monday

WHAT: CAIR News Conference About Walkout by Colorado Muslim Workers Over Prayer Dispute
WHEN: Wednesday, December 30, 5:30 p.m. (Local Time)
WHERE: Denver Muslim Society, 2071 S. Parker Road, Denver, CO, 80231
CONTACT: CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein, 612-406-0070, [email protected]; CAIR Civil Rights Litigation Director Jenifer Wicks, 202-322-9397, [email protected]

More than 100 of the Muslim employees who took part in the walkout, the majority of whom are of Somali heritage, have retained CAIR to represent them regarding their religious accommodation request and to work with Cargill to implement a workable policy that meets the needs of all parties.

In conference call this afternoon with Cargill legal representatives in Kansas, the CAIR representatives were unable to reach an immediate resolution of the walk-out or the religious accommodation issue.

CAIR, the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, says it will now review all legal options to protect the workers' rights.

In 2008, CAIR dealt with the same religious accommodation issue at a Swift plant in Greeley, Colo. A similar dispute that same year at a Swift plant in Nebraska was successfully resolved.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Related Links

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