Federal Court Orders Alaska Airlines To Rehire Mechanic Fired Over Cannabis
A federal judge in Seattle upheld an arbitration order requiring Alaska Air Group, Inc.’s (NYSE:ALK) Alaska Airlines to rehire an aircraft maintenance technician who was fired after testing positive for cannabis in July 2022.
The court’s decision reflects the growing tension between state and federal laws, especially in states where marijuana use is legal.
Union Wins Reinstatement Via Arbitration
The technician, Gregory Chappell, was terminated following a random drug test that detected THC levels above the permissible limit. Chappell contested the results, suggesting inadvertent consumption of an infused edible at a local block party. Despite his explanation, Alaska Airlines enforced its zero-tolerance drug policy without investigating his claims.
Chappell’s union, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), challenged the firing through arbitration and secured his reinstatement last year. Nevertheless, Alaska Airlines contested the arbitration panel’s decision, filing a lawsuit in federal court to reverse the reinstatement, citing safety concerns and questioning the credibility of Chappell’s defense.
Get Benzinga’s exclusive …