JBS Swift surrenders to Muslims
source: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/09/17/ap5437906.html

A dispute over Muslim prayer time at a Grand Island meatpacking plant
appears to have been settled, a union official said Wednesday.

Dan Hoppes, president of the local United Food and Commercial Workers
Union, said management at the JBS Swift & Co. plant has agreed to
temporarily change the timing of the second-shift lunch break to
accommodate workers wanting time to pray at sunset during the Muslim
observance of Ramadan.

Workers previously took the 30-minute break in shifts. The change will
force the entire line to break at once, which Hoppes said doesn't
violate the union contract.

"Hopefully we've got this put to bed," said Hoppes, who met with
workers and management Tuesday.

The news comes two days after 300 Muslim workers walked off the job in
protest of the prayer dispute. Many of the workers, who are mostly of
Somali background, marched to Grand Island City Hall with signs urging
religious freedom.