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SENIOR ACCOUNTANTS, ANALYSTS AND APPRAISERS ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs.
CITY OF DETROIT, Defendant-Appellant
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Issues:
Pre-employment testing, policy and procedures, public employees, collective bargaining, return to duty testing.
Case Summary:
Officials with the City of Detroit appeal a state commission's determination that ruled the city's seasonal employees could negotiate aspects of the city's drug testing policy. City officials argued that the rehires were not entitled to the same bargaining rights provided regular public employees.
Decision of lower jurisdiction:
The Michigan Employment Relations Commission ruled in favor of the employees. The commission ruled the city's established procedure for rehiring summer workers viewed the seasonal workers as regular municipal employees. Therefore, the returning workers were entitled to negotiate with the city over the drug testing issue. City officials now appeal.
Outcome:
The city loses. The Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed the commission's ruling. The court ruled the city's procedure considered the returning workers "regular" employees and not subject to the city's testing procedures for new hires.