Bible Minded Trucker Sues Employer
By JIM PATTERSON
.c The Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A trucker who believes the Bible won't allow him to
make overnight runs with female colleagues because it could ``lead to lustful
thoughts'' has sued his company.
David Virts filed a federal lawsuit Monday against his employer, Consolidated
Freightways Corp. of Delaware.
Because the bunk area of a truck cab is cramped, drivers paired on overnight
trips usually disrobe in the cab before making their way to the rear,
according to the lawsuit.
Such a practice is evil, the lawsuit said, because ``it can lead to lustful
thoughts and sexual temptation, all of which the Bible says Christians should
avoid.''
Driving assignments are handed out by seniority as required by the Teamsters
union contract, said Mike Brown, a spokesman for Consolidated, based in Menlo
Park, Calif.
``It is not a simple matter of pairing drivers who would choose to be
together,'' Brown said. ``All companies are bound by the Teamsters collective
bargaining agreement to assign drivers in seniority order, and drivers must
accept the assignments.''
Virts says he was paired with a female driver for an overnight run in 1995 but
was able to switch to a male partner. When he returned, he said he was told
that the company could have fired him for refusing to go with the female
driver.
On May 30, 1997, Virts says he was again paired with a female driver but could
find no one to switch with, so he refused to go.
A few days later, after a meeting with company and Teamsters officials, Virts
was told he had ``voluntarily quit'' when he refused the May 30 trip. He was
rehired three weeks later with the provision that he not file a union
grievance over his firing.
Virts says the company has caused him emotional distress and harm to his
reputation. He wants $150,000 in damages and the right not to make overnight
trips with women.
AP-NY-05-22-98 1927EDT
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