NYC Transit Authority (TA) allowed Turban Sikh to drive train

New York: June 9, 2004

NYC Transit Authority (TA) reversed its position yesterday and allowed to a Sikh train operator for wearing a turban on his old job.

Harrington, 53, of the Bronx, a converted Sikh who has worn a turban during all his 25 years at NYC Transit, said supervisors unexpectedly told him earlier this month that his religious headwear violates Metropolitan Transportation Authority policy barring the wearing of unofficial caps.

A transit spokesman, Mr. Charles Seaton said, "we took a look at what was going on. It appears that there were some problems with enforcement. Ttransit officials would review the agency's dress code in a way to make the rules more uniform, and some way so that religious headwear may be accommodated."

NYC Transit Authority (TA) stopeed Sikh from driving train
unless wear cap over his turban

New York, June 07, 2004

Kevin Harrington, who also calls himself Sathari Singh, adopted more than 25 years ago after a Roman Catholic childhood. Brother Harrington 53 yrs old, a Sikh, who has been operating trains for two decades, was told by his supervisor that he must wear a NYC Transit hat. "He was asking me about my turban," said Harrington, who wears a blue turban to match his NYC Transit uniform.

In 20 years working under the city, he'd helped evacuate trains, had mayors as passengers and received a Metropolitan Transportation Authority commendation for service. A week later, Harrington received disquieting news: NYC Transit was reassigning him to work in a subway yard for violating NYC Transit's policy on employee uniforms

Harrington said his hourly wage might not change, but he considers yard work a demotion. Overtime pay is limited and travel time to work could be longer than the short distance between his home and the Woodlawn station, where the No. 4 line starts

."I'm very angry. I feel it's a betrayal on their part, and I consider it a violation of my freedom of religion," the paper quoted Kevin as saying. He said that he wore a turban when he was hired, when he was promoted to motorman from cleaner and for every trip he had taken on the rails. He wonders whether he has been swept up in a wave of bias unleashed by the Sept. 11 attacks from people who mistake Sikhs for Muslims or if NYC Transit brass has become less tolerant.