Pubdate: Mon, 19 Aug 2013
Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Kamloops Daily News
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679
Author: K.B. McLarnon
Page: C1

ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY OBVIOUSLY NOT WORKING

Regarding the recent search conducted on 300 contracted workers as
they arrived for work at the Highland Valley Copper mine, I was amazed
to hear the responses of the union representatives.

Their comments were: "illegal search," "a clear violation of our
collective agreement," and "some poisoned practices from some
non-union or rightto-work states in the U.S."

If I read this correctly, the United Steelworkers' position is, and I
quote,"zero-tolerance when it comes to substance abuse around the
workplace, which we deal with when we have cause."

Well, guess what? Your high standard of zero tolerance is not working.
I know that because - according to the article - there was cocaine and
marijuana found.

I think your claim of illegal search is coming from a weak position
considering what was uncovered, and you have a far more serious safety
issue to address.

A portion of your workers are telling you they don't care about your
zero tolerance, or that they are endangering their follow employees by
using drugs in the workplace.

The other clean workers are unwilling or unable to say anything
because of the union brotherhood code.

I don't believe that employees bring drugs to work, without ever
planning to use them.

Apparently, nothing is done until there is someone hurt or killed on
the job.

If you as a union representative want to be concerned about something,
let it be the safety of the workers who don't bring drugs to work.

Taking the position that they should have been aware that a search was
going occur is like posting a sign on the road: "Police road check
ahead, get rid of your liquor and put a sober driver at the wheel."

If you were serious about eliminating drugs and drug use in the
workplace, then your zero-tolerance policy should read: "If you're
wired, you're fired."

In closing, I would be interested to know what steps these unions have
taken recently to eliminate drugs use on the job, and if they have
effective measures in place to address this issue and to prevent
future problems.

Let us not forget that the real goal here regarding drugs is to create
a safer workplace for everyone. I would also hope that their policies
would result in zero drugs on any future unannounced drug searches by
the employer.

K.B. McLarnon

Kamloops
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MAP posted-by: Matt