Fired Atheist To Get Human Rights Hearing - "I can't have someone like you here."

[Breeze54]

Fired Atheist To Get Human Rights Hearing

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/13266073/detail.html

Man Says Boss Didn't Like His Lifestyle

POSTED: 4:25 pm EDT May 6, 2007

LEWISTON, Maine --

An investigator has found reasonable grounds for a claim that a Maine worker was fired
because he's an atheist.

Cacy Cantwell said Austin "Jack" DeCoster told him before he was fired that they would
have to "part ways" because the manager at DeCoster farms didn't believe in God. With
the backing of an investigator, his case is expected to go before the full Maine Human
Rights Commission.

Cantwell, who was provided housing he shared with a non-married partner, two of his children
and three of her children, said he was criticized by DeCoster, a devout Christian, who didn't
approve of the living arrangement.

On another occasion, DeCoster brought up God in a conversation, and Cantwell responded by
saying he was an atheist and didn't believe in God.

Cantwell told the investigator that DeCoster put his hand on his shoulder and told him:

"I can't have someone like you here. We might need to part ways."

The official reason for Cantwell's firing was "poor job performance," but an investigator
for the human rights commission said he received no warning prior to that.

DeCoster is the region's largest brown egg producer. Cantwell was working for Maine Contract
Farming LLC. He was hired as a manager in 2003 and was fired three years later.

Related To Story

SURVEY

Do you think it should be legal to fire someone based
upon his or her religious beliefs or lack thereof?

Yes

No

Vote at link!! http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/13266073/detail.html

----------------------------------------------

Choice ----------Votes ----------- Percentage of 1151 Votes

Yes -------------- 246 ------------------- 21%

No --------------- 905 ------------------- 79%

------------------

How ridiculous!! :crazy: Must be a 'fundie' in charge!! Ya think??
Guess I won't be buying any eggs from Maine Contract Farming LLC

[sutz12]

1. Obviously, righteous prayer would increase the yield of eggs.

Jesus was a chicken farmer, too, ya know.

Do I really need a :sarcasm: ?

[Breeze54]

2. LOL!

:P

[Fridays Child]

3. It's pretty astounding that 21% of respondents think this should be legal.

And, apparently, DeCoster Farms is no stranger to discrimination lawsuits.

http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/Individualcompanies/D/DeCosterFarms

[Breeze54]

8. WoW!!! Harassment Suit for $1.5M & woman fired for reporting unsafe working conditions

Great link!! Thanks!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

-------------------

Iowa Harassment Suit Settled for $1.5M
HR Daily News 04 Oct 2002

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has announced a $1,525,000
settlement of an employment discrimination lawsuit against DeCoster Farms.

----------

Auburn woman sues egg farm
Lisa Chmelecki, Sun Journal 02 Mar 2002

The safety of workers at the former DeCoster Egg Farms is once again being questioned.
An Auburn woman who was hired to serve as a liaison to the Spanish-speaking employees
claims that she was fired after reporting unsafe working conditions, including her
concerns that employees were being denied proper medical attention for workplace injuries.

http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/Individualcompanies/D/DeCosterFarms


What a bunch of lowlifes!!!

[jilln]

19. Well...

I bet they answer that way because they think a private employer should be able to fire their employees for any reason, not just specifically for being an atheist.

[Breeze54]

20. Naw, I think they voted to answer that specific question.

It didn't ask about the Right to Work.

It asked:

Do you think it should be legal to fire someone based upon his or her religious beliefs or lack thereof?

[rocktivity]

4. It's nobody's goddam business

If you'll pardon the expression!


rocknation

[DamnYank]

5. Another pseudo-Christian

I believe this same Decoster was caught up in a major scandal 15-20 years ago, when it emerged that immigrant workers, many from Mexico, were being forced to live in vile, filthy housing and were exposed to unsafe working conditions. I recall that heavy fines were eventually levied. It's been a long time, but I lived in Maine and remember the case well. This is either the same guy or his son.

The guy wore his religion on his sleeve and professed to have done nothing wrong even after video of the living and working conditions was shown on TV. IIRC, it was a small town independent weekly paper that brought these long-standing problems before the public. Only then did the MSM run with it.

So much for "do unto others".x(

[Breeze54]

9. They live and never learn, it seems!!

Welcome to DU, DamnYank ! :hi:

[Maine-ah]

21. sounds relatively familiar, DamnYank

though 15-20 years ago, I was a teenager, just starting to pay attention to the world.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Breeze54]

22. You baby, you!

:P

[papau]

6. New England really is a great place to live-despite the 21% that are confused as to civil rights n/t

n/t

[Breeze54]

7. New England is a great place to live....

...if you can afford it! :P

I live here (MA) and love the 'views'. (no pun intended) :P

But the cost of eggs?? Outrageous!! $2.39 a doz! Now I see why!!

Just in case, I'll buy from a local farmer from now on!

[papau]

10. I live in the cheapest 2 bedroom house in Newton (which cost a fortune) and our eggs are over $3 for

jumbo.

Costs are really getting to the point Florida is becoming a real option. But the intellectual level, the civil rights views of the population (Barney Franks is our Congressman) and the ease of getting to interesting places quickly would make moving a very sad day.

[Breeze54]

12. Barney is also my rep! I'm near Newton..sort of...

;)

We must be both in the same 'newly' drawn voting map!

I live in one of the cheapest townhouse rentals near Medfield.
H & HW included but they're for sale and I have to move in Dec. :(
I hate the owner but I love the rent and I haven't bought eggs in 2 weeks!
Market Basket has cheaper egg prices than Rochies. ;)

[papau]

13. 7mi-But Rocies carries the bags to the car- & that is worth a lot to the not that fit types! :-) n/t

n/t

[Breeze54]

16. lol! Yes, that does help! I tip them anyway!

;)

My son works at one of them! He's a Gold Star Certified Customer Rep. now!
New raise and badge and all! I'm so proud...lol (really, I am!) ;)
And he carries my bags too, even at home! :rofl:

[papau]

17. I think you are locked in with that kind of service! :-)

:-)

[Forkboy]

15. Barney alone is reason enough to stay here!

He's easily my favorite politician.

[shenmue]

11. He worked on a farm

What was he going to do, grow the plants in an unreligious way?

:sarcasm:

It didn't make a difference before the boss found out, why should it matter now...

:(

Frustrating.

[valerief]

14. Wow, Jesusland is moving farther and farther north. nt

[Breeze54]

18. Yeah, there are some here...

but we squash them in MA!! :P Now the bluest state in the union!