A federal lawsuit filed in U-S District Court in Green Bay alleges Ariens Company is violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act. Somali Muslim workers at the plant in Brillion say they are being forced to choose between not performing their prayers or possibly losing their jobs. Ariens changed its break policy last year. Before the change, Muslim employees were allowed to leave the production line twice each shift to pray for five minutes. To avoid unscheduled breaks in production, Ariens Company told its workers to pray during scheduled breaks in designated prayer rooms. Seven employees were fired for failing to comply and 14 others resigned.
