City Agrees to Delay Random Drug Testing
The city of Torrance, facing a lawsuit by its transit employees, agreed Wednesday to delay the imposition of random drug tests that are required under new federal regulations.
Effective today, all government agencies that receive funds from the federal Urban Mass Transit Administration must begin random drug testing. Local 1117 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents the transit workers, has filed a Superior Court lawsuit seeking an injunction against the testing, claiming that it violates privacy rights guaranteed by the state Constitution.
During a hearing on the injunction Wednesday, the union agreed to temporarily shelve its request and the city agreed to delay imposition of the testing until another hearing Jan. 16. If the government insists that Torrance begin drug tests immediately or lose its federal funds, the city promises to give the union 24 hours’ notice.
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