Kempsey Workers Say No to Drug Tests

Date: 21 December 2005

Workers at Kempsey Council met on 20 December 2005 and voted unanimously to reject Council's Random Drugs and Alcohol Breath Testing Policy saying that it is both degrading and an invasion of privacy.

The United Services Union which represents Council workers across NSW has called on the Council to withdraw their Policy citing member concerns that they have been degraded by the procedure associated with the testing and were bullied into accepting the policy in the first place.

Workers at Kempsey have resolved to refuse the testing which they said made them feel like cattle being rounded up and believe it is both degrading and invasive.

The meeting resolved:

"That because we find the testing degrading and invasive, members will refuse to undergo Random Testing for Drugs and Alcohol, and further, that members support a Policy of 'Show cause' and 'Post incident' testing be introduced to enforce Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace."

USU General Secretary Brian Harris says the Union fully supports the members' stand in this matter. "We have supplied Council with a copy of Unions NSW Alcohol, Drugs and Fatigue in the Workplace which the USU fully supports. This policy looks at education in identifying impairment in the workplace," explained Brian Harris. "It is also far less intrusive then the policy currently being enforced by Council."

The USU has also expressed concern that members felt bullied into accepting the policy. "This union understands the concern of employers to ensure the health and safety of employees and the public and that the use of alcohol and drugs at work is not acceptable, however we do not accept any form of bullying or harassment in the workplace," said Brian Harris. "We certainly do not support workers being forced into doing things which degrade and humiliate them."

For further information please contact USU Organiser John Blacklock on 0419 447 054 or 4962 1444.

For further information

Contact:	Brian Harris
Union:	United services Union
Phone:	(02) 9265 8211
Email:	united@usu.org.au
WWW:	http://www.usu.org.au

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