Sikh transit workers fight MTA logo rule

Sikh transit workers rallied at City Hall yesterday against an MTA requirement that they wear the agency’s logo on their turbans. The policy has already spurred a discrimination lawsuit from the Justice Department.

Twenty-seven City Council members signed on to a letter of support, urging NYC Transit President Howard Roberts to drop the logo rule adopted after 9/11, when four Muslim women were barred from driving buses while wearing head scarves. The letter claimed the rule “selectively” targets Sikhs and Muslims. A 2005 Justice Department survey found more than 100 MTA workers in “unbranded” knit caps and Yankee hats.

NYC Transit responded the policy actually accommodates “uniformed employees who refused to wear standard issue headwear due to their religious beliefs.” Spokesman Paul Fleuranges said customers need to see the MTA logo to identify employees.

Sikh train operator Kevin Harrington won a medal for leading passengers to safety on 9/11. “I didn't have a corporate logo on my turban,” he said.