aristotle
SPNer
If passed, The Drug Free Commercial Driver Act would allow motor carriers to force a Sikh operator to provide a hair sample for pre-employment testing and further future testing for the purpose of curbing controlled substance abuse.
About the bill
On October 30, 2013, Congressman Eric “Rick” Crawford (R-AR) introduced the Drug Free Commercial Driver Act of 2013 (H.R. 3403). It has been co-sponsored by Representatives Tom Cotton (R-AR), Tim Griffin (R-AR), Reid Ribble (R-WI), Steve Womack (R-AR), Jeff Miller (R-FL), Sean Duffy, (R-WI), and Randy Weber (R-TX). As stands, the bill has been assigned to the Highways and Transit subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee.
This bill would allow motor carriers to use hair testing as a method for detecting use of controlled substances by an operator for pre-employment testing and later random testing. It directs the Secretary of Transportation (“Secretary”) to modify regulations and to develop procedures to allow a motor carrier during the rulemaking process to apply for an exemption from current requirements to allow use of hair testing of operators for controlled substances instead of other methods (such as urinalysis or blood testing). Click here to read the bill’s text.
This bill would allow Employers to force a Sikh operator to provide a hair sample, thereby preventing Sikhs from seeking employment as operators due to their inability to cut their hair for any purpose. Once again, Sikhs would have to choose between employment, and their faith.
This bill comes at the heels of complaints from truck drivers in Arizona. Last year, a trucking company in Arizona which refused to hire an elderly Sikh unless he submitted a freshly cut sample of his hair for drug testing. The company refused to accept urinalysis, or other means of testing which are commonly used in the trucking industry. The EEOC is currently investigating the matter.
If this proposed bill goes through, it will unfold disastrous consequences for Sikh truck drivers. It will essentially give the trucking industry a free hand to impetuously reject Sikh applicants on their refusal to cut their hair.
Devout Sikhs should not be forced to choose between employment, and their faith. We cannot allow incidents like the one in Arizona to be repeated.
(Source: http://unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/PRSRLS-11-04-14-01.html)
About the bill
On October 30, 2013, Congressman Eric “Rick” Crawford (R-AR) introduced the Drug Free Commercial Driver Act of 2013 (H.R. 3403). It has been co-sponsored by Representatives Tom Cotton (R-AR), Tim Griffin (R-AR), Reid Ribble (R-WI), Steve Womack (R-AR), Jeff Miller (R-FL), Sean Duffy, (R-WI), and Randy Weber (R-TX). As stands, the bill has been assigned to the Highways and Transit subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee.
This bill would allow motor carriers to use hair testing as a method for detecting use of controlled substances by an operator for pre-employment testing and later random testing. It directs the Secretary of Transportation (“Secretary”) to modify regulations and to develop procedures to allow a motor carrier during the rulemaking process to apply for an exemption from current requirements to allow use of hair testing of operators for controlled substances instead of other methods (such as urinalysis or blood testing). Click here to read the bill’s text.
This bill would allow Employers to force a Sikh operator to provide a hair sample, thereby preventing Sikhs from seeking employment as operators due to their inability to cut their hair for any purpose. Once again, Sikhs would have to choose between employment, and their faith.
This bill comes at the heels of complaints from truck drivers in Arizona. Last year, a trucking company in Arizona which refused to hire an elderly Sikh unless he submitted a freshly cut sample of his hair for drug testing. The company refused to accept urinalysis, or other means of testing which are commonly used in the trucking industry. The EEOC is currently investigating the matter.
If this proposed bill goes through, it will unfold disastrous consequences for Sikh truck drivers. It will essentially give the trucking industry a free hand to impetuously reject Sikh applicants on their refusal to cut their hair.
Devout Sikhs should not be forced to choose between employment, and their faith. We cannot allow incidents like the one in Arizona to be repeated.
You can sign a petition to your elected representatives requesting them not to proceed with the bill. Link: http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50846/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=13648
(Source: http://unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/PRSRLS-11-04-14-01.html)