FEDS SUING MTA OVER RELIGIOUS DAYS OFF.Byline: Staff and Wire Services The U.S. Justice Department has filed a civil rights suit against the MTA (1) (Message Transfer Agent or Mail Transfer Agent) The store and forward part of a messaging system. See messaging system. (2) See M Technology Association. 1. (messaging) MTA - Message Transfer Agent. , claiming the agency discriminates against bus drivers and other employees by requiring them to be available to work on days of worship. The suit said Metropolitan Transportation Authority discriminated against bus driver Henry Asher Asher (ăsh`ər) [Heb.,=happy], in the Bible, tribe of Israel. Its eponym was Jacob's eighth son. It occupied the northwestern part of ancient Palestine, and its position laid Asher open to influence from other nations and attacks by them. , who is Jewish Jew·ish adj. Of or relating to the Jews or their culture or religion. See Usage Note at Jew. Jew  ish·ly adv. , because it didn't accommodate his wish to observe the Sabbath Sabbath [Heb.,=repose], in Judaism, last day of the week (Saturday), observed as a rest day for the twenty-five hours commencing with sundown on Friday. In the biblical account of creation (Gen. 1) the seventh day is set as a Sabbath to mark God's rest after his work. from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. The suit seeks to stop MTA from practicing what it calls unlawful employment discrimination on the basis of religion, as well as asking for monetary damages Monetary damages, in civil law, refers to compensation given to an injured party by a liable party. Monetary damages may be restitution, a penalty, or both. and other relief for the employees. ``No employer should force its employees to choose between their faith and a job, when reasonable accommodations reasonable accommodations A standard of providing for a worker's or customer's needs, as mandated by the ADA, which requires that a business make appropriate changes in the environment to accommodate those with mental or physical disabilities as long as such are possible,'' said R. Alexander Acosta, assistant attorney general for the department's civil rights division. MTA spokesman Bill Heard said that because the agency's operations run around the clock, it's necessary for bus drivers - particularly junior ones - to make such a commitment. ``Apparently, this gentleman, after being hired and trained ... decided he was not available for the job,'' Heard said. He said the agency's employees understand that they may not be able to get off on Saturdays, Sundays or particular religious holidays until they have enough seniority. Most of MTA's rank-and-file workers, from bus drivers to mechanics, are represented by unions. ``As you get more senior, then you can bid for days that might give you time off,'' Heard said. |
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