A union that represents American Airlines fleet service employees is suing the Fort Worth-based carrier because of what it deems are unnecessary drug tests.
Fleet service employees perform jobs such as bag loading and aircraft cleaning. While federal law dictates some aviation employees receive drug testing, there is no rule that dictates fleet service employees have to, the Transport Workers Union of America argued in a lawsuit filed last week in the Northern District of Illinois.
The union and airline’s collective bargaining agreement, or CBA, says only if there is “reasonable cause” or after an accident can fleet service employees be drug tested, the TWU said in the lawsuit.
But the TWU said American has begun requiring drug tests of fleet service employees in connection with a contract between the carrier and the United States Postal Service.
“American has told TWU officers that it is requiring drug tests for Fleet Service employees because it is demanded by the USPS, and by laws relied on by the USPS in asserting that employees of USPS contractors be drug tested,” the TWU said in the lawsuit.
The TWU argued there is no law that requires fleet service employees who handle mail to be drug tested.
An American Airlines spokesperson did not provide a comment as of press time.
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