Boeing Subsidiary Suspends 19 in Drug Investigation

The largest California subsidiary of the Boeing Co. has suspended without pay 19 employees, including several plant managers, as part of a company probe into alleged drug use and sales, company and union representatives said Friday.

The scope of the investigation at Hydraulic Units Corp. in Duarte is the largest ever involving drugs within Boeing or one of its subsidiaries, Boeing spokesman Lee Lathrop in Seattle said. About 113,000 employees are employed by Boeing, one of the world’s biggest builders of commercial jet aircraft, and its subsidiaries.

Security officials at Hydraulic Units began an investigation Aug. 18 after receiving tips from “several employees” about on-the-job drug use reportedly involving cocaine and marijuana, Lathrop said. About 65 employees out of the 600 at the plant were interviewed before officials issued suspensions to 19 workers on Aug. 22, he said.

None of those questioned or suspended were asked to take a drug test, Lathrop said.

Decision Pending

A decision on whether to fire any of the workers will not be made until the company investigation is completed late next week, Lathrop said.

Of those suspended, Lathrop said, several are managers at the plant, but he would not specify how many or their positions in the company. A majority of those suspended worked directly in the manufacturing of hydraulic systems used to control the wing flaps and landing gear on Boeing jets, he said.

A company review of work performed by those suspended has turned up “nothing in the way of faulty or defective parts,” said Lathrop, who would not say whether any parts inspectors were among those removed from their jobs.

“Our concerns were in two areas: Employee safety and product quality,” Lathrop said. “By suspending those employees we’ve addressed both areas. We will not tolerate the use or sale of any controlled substance on the job.”

No Criminal Counts

At this point, Lathrop said, the company does not plan to seek criminal charges against the employees.

Some of those suspended belong to United Auto Workers Union, Local 509, which represents about 400 of the 600 employees at the Duarte plant. While leaders of the local could not be reached for comment, a secretary at the union hall said the company has told them little about the investigation.

Currently, Boeing does not have a drug testing plan. But Lathrop said a team of company planners is “actively reviewing” several proposals to begin limited testing of job applicants, possibly by early next year. Employees who have drug or alcohol problems are given counseling by the company if they ask for it, he said.