Fair Work Australia rules against urine testing for drugs

[Frazz]

Posted March 29, 2012 14:51:12

 

Workers at a New South Wales energy company will no longer have to give urine sample for drug tests, after a ruling by Fair Work Australia.

The arbitrator has ruled in favour of trade unions, which had argued the state-owned Endeavour Energy should use oral swabs for testing instead.

 

Scott McNamara, from the United Services Union, says Fair Work Australia found urine testing was invasive and unjust.

"The tribunal took a view that drug testing is not for social monitoring. Drug testing is to seek if you are fit for work, and that gets down to workplace safety," he said.

"What people do on the weekend does not necessarily have a bearing on what they do during the day. It's similar to alcohol consumption."

 

Other trade unions have also celebrated the decision.

Jim Casey, from the Fire Brigade Employees' Union, says it is a matter of dignity.

"We'll happily cop random drug and alcohol testing the day that surgeons, lawyers and politicians are required to," he said.

"Leaving that aside, the question about urine testing for us is a question about dignity.

"We turn up to work, we do a dangerous job, we do it well, and I don't think that it's appropriate that we be required to urinate on request from our management."

 

Date:March 29, 2012

Source: ABC NEWS Online : http://www.abc.net.a...068?section=nsw

Copyright: Australian Broadcasting Corp.

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OHS News - PostedMonday 2nd April 2012.

 

 

Train drivers, prison guards and firefighters oppose urine drug tests

 

Prison guards, firefighters and train drivers are appealing to the state government not to force them to submit to urine tests after the Fair Work Australia decision last week decided that the practice was “unjust and unreasonable.”

According to a Herald report, Fair Work Australia ruled that urine tests should not be done to employees of a state-owned energy company since the test could give a positive drug result from days earlier which is “unjust and unreasonable.”

They further suggested that drug tests using oral swabs were more appropriate.

Unions NSW on Thursday passed a motion to ensure “the precedent set by the Endeavour decision flows through to workers throughout the state of NSW.”

 

Date: Monday 2 April, 2012

Source:http://www.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/04/train-drivers-prison-guards-and-firefighters-oppose-urine-drug-tests/

Copyright: © COPYRIGHT SAFETY CULTURE 2006 TO PRESENT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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Hooray its about time someone decided to stand up to employers terms of employment and dictacting the lifestyle their workers lead , i really hope this flows onto all workplaces

BUT the Employers association or whatever it is called, is appealling this decision so ive heard

Edited April 18, 2012 by Frazz
i know this is old news but i think we overlooked it

[jaikai]

Thanks Frazz, well appreciated

 

JAIKAI

[darryl d]

It's about time...