Going back a few pages someone tried to compare this to Parkers incident. I'd like to point out a few differences. First off, it was likely PArkers vehicle. If it was leased, well it muddies te waters some. In the CLT case it was a Company vehicle, and I assume it had logos. In Parkers case he was not on the clock (except when you consider that as CEO he's always on call), the CLT employee, as I understand it, was.
A Union is obligated to represent their members. Even though many of us feel the IAM is not doing this overall, they still bear that obligation, and thus the employee is entitled to representation. Part of that representation is to get the best outcome for the employee. If CLT is ANYTHING like LAS management screwed to termination up and he'll be back on a "technicality". If they did it properly then the employee will NOT be back no matter what the IAM does.
If you've been drinking you don't belong at work. I'm not talking drunk, I'm talking drinking. At all. It far too dangerous, and violates both Company policy AND the law. THAT aside, I hate drunk drivers. If the allegation is factual, and the employee was in fact drunk, I hope he gets everything that's coming to you, and that his family can find some way to sucessfully deal with the situation he put them in.