On
September 11, 2012, a grievance hearing for Milam was
held with Horizon Air Pilots’ System Board of
Adjustment. Arbitrator Cliff Freed presided over the
hearing at which time testimony was given by both sides.
On February 11, 2013, the Board issued its opinion and
order. It found the Milam violated the company’s drug
and alcohol policy, his attendance was poor and he
violated the trust between the company and its
customers. However, because the company failed to review
all company records as it pertained to Milam before it
terminated Milam as required by the company’s Integrated
Drug and Alcohol Program (IDAP) the Board ordered
Horizon Air to reinstate Milam to his same potion
subject to a Last Chance Agreement and other conditions.
On
April 16, 2013, Horizon Air filed a lawsuit in the
United States District Court for the Western District of
Washington (Seattle) to petition to vacate the
arbitration award by the Pilots’ System Board of
Adjustment (Horizon Air Industries Inc v. Airline
Professionals Association, Teamsters Local 1224 Assigned
to Judge Ricardo S Martinez. CASE #2:13-cv-00681-RSM).
Horizon Air Industries, Inc. operating as Horizon Air is
a regional airline based in SeaTac, Washington, United
States. It is the eighth largest regional airline in the
USA, serving 52 cities in the United States, Canada and
Mexico. Horizon Air and its sister carrier Alaska
Airlines are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group. It is
also a substantial codeshare partner of American
Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
Horizon Air filed its lawsuit on the grounds that Milam
violated company policy and trust of the company and its
customers when he failed a drug and alcohol test and
acted as a pilot, and the Pilots’ System Board of
Adjustment failed to confine itself to matters within
its jurisdiction. Horizon Air requested that the court
vacate the boards award.
An
attorney for Horizon Air said “Horizon is not willing to
place an impaired pilot back in the cockpit. Doing so
would violate federal law and contravene a well settled
public policy prohibiting a pilot from flying while
using drugs.”
Airline Professionals Association Teamsters Local 1224
President Daniel C. Wells said in a statement “We are
happy with the process that led to the arbitrator’s
decision in this case and are extremely disappointed
with Horizon Air’s decision to file a lawsuit following
the outcome”.
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