Pubdate: Fri, 21 Sep 2012 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2012 Canwest Publishing Inc. Contact: http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/letters.html Website: http://www.calgaryherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66 Author: Dave Coles Page: A13 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n449/a02.html DRUG TESTING DISCRIMINATORY Re: "Life saver," Editorial, Sept. 8. Mandatory drug and alcohol testing has no proven impact on workplace safety and is degrading to employees. For example, more than two-thirds of oil process facility accidents are related to failure of plant equipment and breaches of health and safety regulations. In those cases where worker error is identified, design, operations and management have been cited as possible causes. Testing violates basic human rights to the point where the Canadian Human Rights Commission has deemed it unacceptable. Those who suffer from disabilities are entitled to fair treatment; this includes workers who may use drugs as a result of a disability, and alcoholism is a recognized disability. The commission has ruled that the right of employees to get treatment and the duty of employers to accommodate workers with disabilities takes priority over management rights or collective agreements. Drug testing may also reveal information on a worker's medication, causing an employer to question his or her integrity when they have been found fit for work by a doctor. Our union's experience in representing workers in various workplaces, from paper mills to oil sands to TV studios, has proven that education and prevention with union counsellor networks in local unions and negotiated, joint, professional and confidential employee assistance programs is an effective way to tackle the root of drug and alcohol addiction. Dave Coles, Ottawa Dave Coles is national president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt