A few weeks after suspending 34 Muslim employees in a dispute over the company's accommodation of prayer time, Hertz has moved to fire them. ABC News reports:
Hertz sent termination notices to the Somali Muslim workers Thursday after suspending them on Sept. 30 for failing to clock out — a move that the workers union, Teamsters Local 117, said unfairly targeted the workers for their religion.
"The employer is saying this is not about religion. The problem is, this is only enforced policy with respect to prayer breaks," said Tracey Thompson, secretary-treasurer of the union. "I'm quite certain people take many, many smoking breaks, or go across the street to get coffee. But when they singled out this group of workers when they are engaging in prayer, it is hard to make it about anything other than religion."
The union is planning to file a grievance with the National Labor Relations Board and a religious discrimination claim with the EEOC.
