A federal judge has ordered Alaska Airlines to reinstate a mechanic fired after a positive drug test for marijuana.
The mechanic, Gregory Chappell, claimed the THC in his system came from food consumed at a potluck barbecue days before the test.
U.S. District Judge John H. Chun upheld a prior arbitration decision in favor of Chappell, who was terminated under Alaska’s zero-tolerance drug policy.
The judge ruled that the omission of a potential explanation for Chappell’s test result prevented him from fully defending himself.
Alaska Airlines contended that whether Chappell unknowingly consumed marijuana was irrelevant, as its team knew he denied intentional use.
Despite this, the union representing mechanics argued for back pay and benefits dating to the initial ruling in October 2023, with the issue now returned to arbitration.
Though recreational marijuana is legal in Washington state, Alaska Airlines maintains strict policies for “safety-sensitive” employees like mechanics.
Despite the positive THC result, there was no evidence that Chappell was impaired on the job, and THC can remain detectable for weeks after consumption.
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