 | NORML News: WORKPLACE DRUG TESTING: Kiwi Unions fight back against random drug tests |
 Two different approaches to drug testing in the workplace from two different employers, New Zealand Dairy Foods and Air New Zealand
NORML News Summer 2003-4
Big ups to the Dairy Workers Union for negotiating a fairer drug policy for the industry's labour force.
The policy is harm minimisation based, rather than punitive, making it the first of its kind here. New Zealand Dairy Foods has agreed not to sack employees with drug problems but will try to help them rehabilitate instead.
The policy places the onus on employees to front up, and union national secretary James Ritchie believes that the non punitive approach will allow them to do so.
Meanwhile, the six unions fighting Air New Zealand to prevent random drug testing have been granted more time by Judge Graeme Colgan to assess late changes proposed by the airline.
Air NZ still wants to be able to randomly test any worker, but has now proposed tightening up medical oversight when employees are forced to give urine samples. Dr David Black, former medical officer for the airline, had been scathing of plans to refer test results to staff not bound by a medical code of ethics, and a lack of privilege covering the consent form.
However, these procedural issues are merely a distraction from the real issues of privacy and the inaccuracy of urine tests.
The case will continue in the Employment Court in February.
The Air New Zealand employees are no doubt eying up the Dairy Workers model with keen interest. If they win, employers around the country will have no choice but to take the harm minimisation road.
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