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APRIL 11, 2001

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission wants a federal court to issue an order banning Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad from submitting employees to genetic tests.

The company is being sued by the EEOC and employees who were unknowingly subject to genetic tests. The company tested the employees only after they filed a lawsuit alleging work-place repetitive stain injuries.

Using the test, the company appeared to be trying to show that some employees were predisposed genetically to carpal tunnel syndrome and therefore not qualified for compsenation or other support. The company says 18 out of 125 workers who filed the suit were tested.

The EEOC is suing because it believes the company violated the Americans with Disabilities Act when an amployee was threatened with dismissal for refusing to submit to a blood test.

Burlington Northern agreed to voluntarily stop testing.

Get the Story:
Burlington Northern employees want genetic testing ban (AP 4/11)

Relevant Links:
US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - http://www.eeoc.gov Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad - http://www.bnsf.com