Calgary Transit driver says he'll quit if asked to drive Pride bus
What do you guys think? Has it gone too far?
As an employee of an organization, part of your obligation is to represent the organization's mission and values.
Would it be appropriate for the city if they also required the driver to wear a pride badge as part of the movement celebration?
Where do personal beliefs fit into the workplace? I did some light searching and found that some (maybe most?) places in the US will try to reasonably accommodate an employee's religious beliefs or practices unless it is more than just a minimal burden to operations.
This guy still wants to drive the bus and is open to being assigned to another bus, which I hope is a minimal burden to operations.
http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/08/28...rive-pride-bus
Quote:
A Calgary man says he will quit his job if he's assigned to drive a bus wrapped in a rainbow flag.
The annual Calgary Pride Festival kicks off Friday and, as a show of support, a Calgary Transit bus has been wrapped in the symbol of inclusiveness.
The rainbow flag bus will operate through Sept. 7, the day of the parade.
Jesse Rau, who has worked for Calgary Transit as a driver for about a year, says he's a Christian and can't support homosexuality.
Rau hopes Calgary Transit and the Amalgamated Transit Union will support drivers who don't want to drive the rainbow bus.
MORE: Transit unveils `Ride with Pride`
Doug Morgan, director of Calgary Transit, says drivers can only refuse to work based on safety issues.
"What we would do is open a dialogue with them and chat with them and ask them about their issues and making sure we're being sensitive to their beliefs, but overall the service has to go out and we would ask them to drive the bus," Morgan said.
Rau said he hopes he would be assigned to another bus.
"I have a family to support and I am very concerned about losing the job, it's something I'm very proud to be a part of, but when it goes against the most important things I stand for, or if I'm asked to compromise in such a big way for what I believe to be right, then I have to lose my job," Rau said.
"I'm a Christian so, as a Christian, there are things like homosexuality that I just can't condone. Unfortunately, we live in a culture where if you disagree with someone's lifestyle, the accusation is that you hate the person."
Calgary Pride's director of government affairs, Craig Sklenar, says the bus is a symbol of progress.
'It's a sign of the change in Calgary," said Sklenar. "There's still much to do in as much as LGBTQ rights are concerned but we are excited there is such public displays of pride across the city over the next few weeks."