Alleging Religious Harassment via Gothamist.
A former bus cleaner is suing the NYCTA
for “persistent harassment due to his Muslim beliefs” and denying him
“reasonable workplace accommodation of his religious observances,”
according to a statement from DRUM, an advocacy group based in Queens.
According to the complaint,
Bangladesh-born Sheikh Ahmed worked as a cleaner with NYCTA’s Department
of Buses with a clean record for more than 10 years. Trouble apparently
began, however, when Ahmed transferred to Brooklyn’s East New York
Depot in 2009, where he claimed to be subjected to various forms of
mistreatment for observing his daily prayer requirements, as well as
denied leave to observe Jumah, which stipulates attendance of Friday
afternoon service at an Islamic mosque.
The complaint provides several examples of
Ahmed’s alleged mistreatment. In July of 2010, Ahmed claims his
supervisor, David Forrest, “forced Ahmed to work in the pouring rain,
when a more junior cleaner would have normally been assigned to the
job.” The next day, the complaint alleges that “Forrest unnecessarily
reassigned Ahmed to work alone outside in temperatures above 95
degrees,” despite warnings from supervisors about the dangers of working
in extreme heat.
The most troubling charge took place in
September, when Ahmed was allegedly assigned to “work outside the depot
alone,” despite the fact that employees were typically assigned to
pairs. Ahmed said he had specifically expressed concern about working
alone “due to reports of hate crimes against Muslims.” When Ahmed filed a
safety grievance a week later, Forrest allegedly told him that “his
concerns…were ‘B.S.’ and not important.
According to a spokesperson from DRUM,
Ahmed is not currently speaking to the media about the lawsuit, but you
can read the complaint in its entirety below. In a statement, his lawyer
said, “Mr. Ahmed’s case draws attention to the continuing problem of
Muslim employees being prevented from observing their religion because
they are unlawfully denied reasonable workplace accommodations.” An MTA
spokesman said, “We do not comment on pending litigation.”
Being given an hour or two break time to go to a mosque and pray
midday on Fridays, presumably paid if previous cases are any example, is
not “reasonable accommodation.” It’s wholly unreasonable.Comment: Many of us have to sign to sign certain performance agreements, I even had to sign an oath to the USA and its policies. So, why not simply provide all employees the rules and regulations to be followed, this would include an understanding that no special work time is devoted, offered or permitted for religious practices. The employee signs and it is done!! It is their choice not to work if they do not support the agreements. It is called America.
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