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Council Staff Refuse Tests21 December 2005Staff at Kempsey Council on the NSW North Coast are refusing to take random drug tests, labelling the procedure as “degrading and invasive”. The council last week took about 40 workers at a time into a room where they were selected for a urine test by drawing marbles. As part of the testing, staff - including office workers - were made to inform the council of what medication they were on. United Services Union Port Macquaire Organiser John Blacklock said employees resolved to refuse further testing at a meeting on Tuesday. He said staff felt bullied into accepting the policy when it was initially proposed by council. "Bullying takes different forms, but they didn't feel comfortable, put it that way," Blacklock said. Staff supported a policy of 'show cause', meaning workers should be tested if they are showing signs of impairment. "If they can smell it on someone, or someone's acting irrationally, they can say 'you need to be tested before we start you'," Blacklock said. Other councils are considering following Kempsey's lead, with the Mayor of Griffith Council indicating he supports the procedure. USU NSW Secretary Brian Harris said the union supported a policy of education and impairment testing. "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," Harris said. | |
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