Pubdate: Sun, 28 Jan 2001
Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2001 The Calgary Sun
Contact:  2615 12 Street N.E., Calgary, Alberta T2E 7W9
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Author: Bill Kaufmann

HASSLES FOLLOW DRUG CLAIM

A city garbage collector says he's being punished for blowing the whistle 
on widespread workplace marijuana smoking and dealing -- a drug problem he 
says continues to put the public at risk.

Darren Hunter said he's repeatedly notified city officials of heavy 
on-the-job marijuana use among garbage collectors in Calgary's northwest -- 
only to face sustained harassment and a transfer to another worksite.

"In six or seven months, nothing has happened except I've been harassed and 
spat upon," said Hunter, 33, who's worked for the city's solid waste 
department for 19 months.

Hunter said he's had to share vehicle cabs with dope-smoking colleagues and 
dodged garbage trucks operated recklessly by stoned drivers.

"People in the northwest communities deserve to know there's a good chance 
the garbage truck drivers are high," he said.

"They're still smoking it and the foremen know it ... it's an everyday thing."

After alerting officials last summer, one employee was suspended for four 
days under suspicion he'd been smoking dope on the job. The union has 
launched a grievance in his support.

Hunter said the union has done nothing to support him in his struggle, 
which he claims has included constant harassment from fellow staffers and 
contempt from union officials.

"Nobody wants to make waves at all ... I've been told 'mind your own 
business,' " said Hunter, who's served as a substance-abuse counsellor.

Solid Waste Services general manager Dave Griffiths said Hunter was 
transferred to protect him from resentful colleagues and said his 
substance-abuse and harassment complaints are being examined.

"We're always on our guard for (drug use)," said Griffiths. "We just need 
to get details to know what we need to do to take appropriate action."

The head of Hunter's union said the body constantly repeats the message to 
its members that on-the-job drug use is wrong.

And the president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 37 said 
the union has done all it can for Hunter, calling him paranoid.

"I know he thinks he's got a lot of problems and people are conspiring 
against him, but it's not true," said Dan Donohue.
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