Religious beliefs cost SEPTA worker his job, union says

[Sherman A1]

A SEPTA janitorial worker and the transit agency are fighting over the worker's dismissal for refusing to work on holy days, including Rosh Hashanah.

Romel McAlpin of Germantown was fired last year by SEPTA for refusing to work on Rosh Hashanah and Oct. 12, his Sabbath.

McAlpin, according to legal documents, is an adherent of the Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ, a sect that observes Jewish holy days and marks the Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.

McAlpin, a maintenance custodian in subway tunnels, notified SEPTA of his religious beliefs shortly after he was hired in May 2012, according to a legal brief filed by Transport Workers Union Local 234.


http://articles.philly.com/2014-09-25/business/54322573_1_septa-bruce-bodner-rosh-hashanah

[NaturalHigh]

1. What is so hard about letting people off for religious holidays?

For what it's worth, I don't always get religious holidays off because our job has to be manned 24/7. We're usually willing to trade around to accommodate everyone, though. If people feel they should be off because of religious convictions, I think they should be.