Union defends Muslim employees' right to pray on the clock
A dispute has erupted between a union representing 34 Muslims working at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and their employer, Hertz, regarding whether they have to clock out in order to pray during the work day.
The union, Teamsters Local 117, alleges that Hertz management had verbally agreed the workers would not have to punch out on the timeclock before going to pray. However, last month, employees who didn't clock out were suspended.
"(A manager) said, 'If you guys pray, you go home,'" Zainab Aweis, one of the suspended workers, told CBS. "I said, 'Is that a new rule?' And he said, 'Yes.'"
"The breaks were getting extended way beyond prayer time," said Hertz spokesman Rich Broome, as quoted by The Associated Press. He noted that Muslim employees who complied with the regulations were not suspended.
The union argues that it should have been informed of the sudden time and attendance policy change and has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.
Last year, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hertz with regard to an employee attendance case related to California worker Melinda Friend's claim that she had been misclassified for overtime exemption.
The union, Teamsters Local 117, alleges that Hertz management had verbally agreed the workers would not have to punch out on the timeclock before going to pray. However, last month, employees who didn't clock out were suspended.
"(A manager) said, 'If you guys pray, you go home,'" Zainab Aweis, one of the suspended workers, told CBS. "I said, 'Is that a new rule?' And he said, 'Yes.'"
"The breaks were getting extended way beyond prayer time," said Hertz spokesman Rich Broome, as quoted by The Associated Press. He noted that Muslim employees who complied with the regulations were not suspended.
The union argues that it should have been informed of the sudden time and attendance policy change and has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.
Last year, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hertz with regard to an employee attendance case related to California worker Melinda Friend's claim that she had been misclassified for overtime exemption.
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