The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of New York
issued a directive permitting subway workers to wear
yarmulkes at work during the summer months when
employees are not required to wear hats as part of their
uniform.
The new policy went into effect following the involvement of
Agudas Yisroel of America's legal consultants, who were
contacted by Orthodox conductor Benjamin Schaffer.
Recent uniform policy changes by the MTA have made allowances
for employees to wear turbans, scarves and other head
coverings worn by members of various religions as additions
to the official uniforms, but yarmulkes were not
included among the head coverings permitted during the
summer.
Agudas Yisroel contacted Commissioner Jonathan Greenspan of
the Mayor's Office to voice their objections to the
regulation. Attorney Mordechai Beiser sent a letter claiming
that the policy was a violation of the new state law in New
York guaranteeing the religious rights of religious employees
at their place of work. The law was passed several years ago
with Agudas Yisroel assistance.
A few days after Greenspan conveyed the complaint to MTA
officials, managers called Schaffer in for a meeting to
reformulate the policy for subway workers. The new summer
regulation allows workers to wear dark blue yarmulkes
bearing the MTA emblem on the front.
Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Agudas Yisroel's executive vice
president for government and public affairs, said the
Workplace Religious Freedom Act explicitly protects the
worker in all matters related to observing religious
obligations and thanked MTA heads for taking quick action to
alter the policy.
