ADA Rulings Are Big Win for Companies, Lawyer Tells Truck Executives

ST. PETERSBURG BEACH, Fla. — Dozens of trucking executives and industry lawyers assembled to discuss vexing labor relations issues and how best to adapt to the changes ahead of them as the century draws to a close at the 13th annual conference of the North American Trucking Industrial Relations Association.

The meeting also brought out an alphabet soup of agency representatives — from OSHA and DOT to ADA and NLRB to FMLA and MPPAA – to put a spotlight on government regulations and the challenge of dealing with a unionized work force. The meeting was from Nov. 10 to 12 at the Trade Winds resort here.

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Cincinnati lawyer Katharine C. Weber called recent Supreme Court decisions related to the Americans With Disabilities Act a win for management because the rulings made it harder for disabled workers to sue companies for employment discrimination.

In June, the high court rejected a truck driver’s lawsuit against a grocery store chain over a claim of being fired because of his limited eyesight. The justices also denied a United Parcel Service mechanic, who alleged he was fired because his high blood pressure exceeded Department of Transportation guidelines, from using ADA to sue to company (6-28, p. 1).



For the full story, see the Nov. 15 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.