Tyson Plant Adds Muslim Holiday, Keeps Labor Day

SHELBYVILLE, TN — Union workers and officials at the Tyson Foods plant in Shelbyville, Tenn. have agreed to reinstate Labor Day as a paid holiday, but the plant will also observe a Muslim holiday this year.

Tyson had previously agreed to drop Labor Day and substitute Eid al-Fitr as part of a new 5-year contract. The change was meant to accommodate Muslim workers at the plant.

A news release on Friday from Tyson’s corporate headquarters in Springdale, Ark., said the company requested reinstating Labor Day after some employees complained.

For the remainder of the five-year contract, there will be eight paid holidays, including Labor Day and a personal holiday that can be used to observe Eid al-Fitr or another day the employee’s supervisor approves.