Edwards v. UPS

Edwards v. United Parcel Service, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky (163 LRRM 2116), Decided 1999

Decision: The court refused to set aside the decision of an arbitration panel upholding the termination of a pilot for adulterating a urine specimen.

Background: Courtney Edwards was employed as a pilot for United Parcel Service for about six years before his termination. Edwards was randomly selected for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) drug test.

UPS terminated the pilot after a lab detected the presence of glutaraldehyde in the urine specimen he provided in connection with the FAA-mandated drug test. Glutaraldehyde is an adulterating agent, not found naturally in urine, that masks the detection of drugs in a urine sample. It is found in certain products marketed for the purpose of producing false results in drug testing.

Edwards brought the case before an arbitration panel which upheld the termination.

Court’s Opinion: The court found the pilot’s conduct constituted a refusal to submit to testing and did not overturn the arbitration panel’s decision upholding Edwards’ termination for adulterating a urine specimen.