Find » Business & Finance » Olympic Sponsor Tyson Foods Swaps L...
Olympic Sponsor Tyson Foods Swaps Labor Day for Islamic Holiday
Shelbyville Tyson Foods Workers Mad at Company, Fail to Blame Union
By Sylvia Cochran, published Aug 04, 2008
Published Content: 516 Total Views: 767,679 Favorited By: 65 CPs
Embed:
Tyson Foods is hogging the news, but it's not all good. As a matter of fact, the food giant is inspiring a deluge of headlines that leave consumers wondering if they should not take their business elsewhere. While with the one hand supporting America, mom and apple pie via its Olympic sponsorship, with the other it takes away the traditional paid Labor Day holiday from Shelbyville employees and exchanges it for the religious Islamic observance of Eid ul-Fitr.Tyson Foods in Olympic News
Tyson Foods is a sponsor of the United States Olympic Team and also features prominently on the menu of those touring to China in pursuit of Olympic gold. Market Watch reported on Friday that 1984 Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Rhetton would be the face of Tyson Food's Olympic efforts in 2008.
The marketing angle is undeniable: meat is a premier source of protein, athletes rely on protein to build muscle, and by sponsoring the Olympic Team it does not take a genius to connect the dots between winning athletes and Tyson's meat products.
Tennessee Tyson Foods Nixes Labor Day Holiday In Favor Of Ramadan
In spite of the all-American image Tyson Foods is portraying with its Olympic efforts, tempers are flaring in Shelbyville, Tennessee. The Voice of Clarksville reported on August 3rd that 1,200 of Tyson Foods workers will not receive the day off with pay on Labor Day, and instead the company and the union agreed to a five year contract that would benefit the 700 Muslim employees who would prefer to receive Eid ul-Fitr off, the end of Ramadan.
Mind you, there is only about a month of difference between Labor Day and the end of Ramadan, and all workers will receive the same number of paid days off as before, but to traditional Shelbyville workers this is leaving a sour taste in their mouths that not even the succulent Tyson Foods meats can assuage. Since the contract was arrived at by a union majority vote, Tyson Food simply decided to go along with the request of the majority, or so it would have you believe. Non-union workers still will get Labor Day off.
A Deeper Look at the Tyson Foods Holiday Controversy

Olympic Sponsor Tyson Foods Swaps Labor Day for Islamic Holiday
Date: March 8, 2008Shelbyville, TN USAAll workers will receive the same number of paid days off as before, but to traditional Shelbyville workers this is leaving a sour taste in their mouths that not even the succulent Tyson Foods meats can assuage.
Credit: JF ELIAS
Copyright: Morguefile.com/JF ELIAS
You may also like...
- Labor Day and It's Modern Meanings
- Labor Day Activities in Santa Paula, Cal...
- Labor Day Weekend Activities in Northeas...
- Labor Day Festivals in Ohio
- Labor Day Rib Cook-Off Attracts Visitors...
- Boomsday! the Largest Labor Day Firework...
- Top 25 Country Music Dance Songs for You...
- Labor Day Weekend Events in Shawano, Wis...
- Labor Day Activities in Portland, Oregon
- Labor Day Activities and Philadelphia
Today's Most Commented On
Advertisment


Restaurant Chef
Add a Comment
Posted on 08/06/2008 at 12:08:26 PM
Sylvia Cochran
Add a Comment
Posted on 08/05/2008 at 11:08:30 PM
Robert Mills
Add a Comment
Posted on 08/05/2008 at 9:08:09 PM
America lost it's mind!
Add a Comment
Posted on 08/05/2008 at 6:08:54 PM
shebeeinks
Add a Comment
Posted on 08/05/2008 at 12:08:48 PM
nick
Add a Comment
Posted on 08/05/2008 at 7:08:40 AM