Pubdate: Wed, 31 Jan 2001
Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2001 The Calgary Sun
Contact:  2615 12 Street N.E., Calgary, Alberta T2E 7W9
Fax: (403) 250-4180
Website: http://www.canoe.ca/OttawaSun/home.html
Forum: http://www.canoe.ca/Chat/home.html
Author: Bill Kaufmann

CITY TO WEED OUT STAFF DOPE USE

Action will be taken to nip in the bud any on-the-job use of marijuana 
among city garbage collectors or other staff, Mayor Al Duerr and aldermen 
said yesterday.

Garbage collectors have alleged staff smoke dope while on shift, with one 
complainant insisting drug use among driver personnel poses a safety risk.

Duerr said it's up to employees to alert authorities to the problem, which 
would then be dealt with quickly and firmly.

"If employees have an issue with that, then they have a responsibility to 
bring that forward to the appropriate internal authorities and disciplinary 
action will be taken," Duerr said yesterday.

"Whether it's drug use or alcohol use on city time, that's unacceptable."

Whistleblower Darren Hunter has told the Sun his repeated efforts to have 
drug use among solid waste services staff cleaned up have had limited success.

A fellow-staffer who was briefly suspended last year for suspected 
work-site marijuana use said some employees smoke the drug to help occupy 
the remainder of their shifts after they've finished their garbage routes.

Ald. Joe Ceci said such activity should be grounds for termination, but 
added employees who come forward would get drug treatment.

"It's a serious infraction I think that's dismissable upon being found out, 
so it's not anything anybody should sweep under the carpet...(they should 
be) coming forward with it in private for counselling," said Ceci.
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