Qantas backed away from confrontation with its unions over
random drug and alcohol testing (ATWOnline, Aug. 11) by limiting the program to the
airline's executives . The decision followed a recommendation by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission last week that the trial testing program should be restricted to nonunion employees when it begins later this month. The Australian Council of Trade Unions and 10 unions within Qantas raised the issue with AIRC, claiming the proposed testing program was unfair and represented a breach of employee privacy. They threatened industrial action if the carrier persevered with its plans. Qantas and the unions agreed to further talks and will reappear before the commission Aug. 15.
Oops, there go the lil'office bar fridges...
