Flight Attendants Union Claims Delta Air Line's Drug Testing Policies Are Unfair

The Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO, urged Delta Air Lines to fix the airline's drug testing program, alleging the policy has resulted in the firing of flight attendants who did not test positive for drug use.

"We support the idea of a drug-free workplace, but we also believe in fairness," said Patricia Friend, president of the Association of Flight Attendants. "The results of recent tests call into question Delta's drug testing program."

In a letter to Delta Chairman and CEO Leo F. Mullin, Friend asked Delta to reinstate attendants who were fired while the airline makes changes to its drug testing process.

According to the flight attendants union, Delta recently fired a veteran flight attendant with a spotless work record and absolutely no history of drug use. Portland-based flight attendant Yasuko Ishikawa was terminated after submitting to a random drug test because her urine sample was judged "not consistent with human urine." Delta refused to consider explanations for the unusual reading and denied Ishikawa the opportunity to retake the test, the union claimed.

In addition to Ishikawa, at least five flight attendants have been fired for urine samples "not consistent with human urine" following the screening tests, the union said.

In her letter to Mullin, Friend said she has also written Department of Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater to point out the flaws in Delta's current drug testing program.

Delta employs approximately 20,000 flight attendants at bases in 14 U.S. cities. AFA is the world's largest flight attendant union, representing 47,000 flight attendants at 26 airlines.