CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : Drugs Tests Blocked for Transit Workers

Federally ordered random drug testing for San Francisco transit workers has been blocked by a Superior Court judge, days after an Alameda County judge made a similar ruling. San Francisco Superior Court Judge John Dearman issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting random tests of about 2,500 municipal railway workers until Jan. 5, when a hearing is scheduled on labor unions’ request for a longer-lasting preliminary injunction. Earlier in the week, an Alameda County Superior Court judge issued a restraining order against random drug testing of Alameda-Contra Costa Transit bus drivers. The U.S. Department of Transportation required all local governments to begin random drug testing of transit workers Dec. 18 in order to remain eligible for Urban Mass Transit Administration money.