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Nearly 400 Muslim workers who walked off the job Friday night at a Greeley slaughterhouse stayed home Monday to protest the denial of time to pray when their religious fasting ends during the workday.
Officials of the union that represents the workers, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, met with managers at JBS Swift & Co. on Monday over accommodations for the workers, mostly Somalis, who say they have not been allowed to break for food, water and prayer when religious fasting in observance of Ramadan ends each day, UFCW spokesman Manny Gonzales said.
The workers stayed home Monday while negotiations continued, employee Ahmed Mohamud said.
"They're working with us," Mohamud said of Swift managers, noting that a resolution is expected today.
Company officials would acknowledge in a prepared statement only that an undisclosed number of workers walked out Friday night and that Swift was trying to make accommodations for the workers' religious practices.
The employees walked off Friday night after they were told to keep working rather than break to end their daily fast, employees said. They said bathrooms were locked and water fountains shut off.
"They're upset with their prayer time, and we're filing appropriate grievances to be sure their needs are being met," Gonzales said of the workers.
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