QF staff random drug testing
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QF staff random drug testing
Hey guys for your interest...
Qantas's 38,000 employees will be asked to supply urine samples on demand under a proposed random drug and alcohol testing program.
The program is yet to be introduced because of concerns raised by the ACTU and unions representing the airline's staff.
Under the regime, employees would be asked to provide urine samples which would reveal the presence of illegal and prescription drugs taken during the previous three months.
The airline's proposed banned list includes prescription medications, including blood pressure tablets and some drugs that treat cardiovascular conditions.
ACTU senior industrial officer Richard Watts said employees could be sacked if certain prescription drugs or illegal drugs were found during testing.
"If you showed up with prescription medication in a drug test and you hadn't told your employer about it and gotten an okay, it would be a dismissable offence," Mr Watts said.
Telling the employer that certain medications were being taken could result in an employee being moved or forced to take leave, he said.
Mr Watts said many medicines were on the banned list simply because they carried warnings of possible drowsiness and the dangers of using heavy machinery if affected.
The ACTU also questioned the employer's right to test for illegal drugs.
"The employer has an obligation to provide a safe working environment but it's not the employer's role to be a moral guardian of society," Mr Watts said.
"Obviously, there's some drugs that are illegal but people take them, particularly young people.
"It doesn't necessarily mean they're impaired at work."
One alternative the union wants Qantas to consider is mouth swabs rather than urine testing, which would reveal whether someone had taken drugs in the past 48 hours.
"There aren't many drugs people take that will impair their performance for more than 48 hours," he said.
The ACTU is yet to form a firm position on drug and alcohol testing in the workplace but union officials hope to set a policy that would apply to public and private employers.
Mr Watts said the NSW government was expected to begin negotiations soon on a drug and alcohol testing program for the public transport sector, including bus and train drivers and ferry captains.
Qantas confirmed it was negotiating the introduction of a new drug and alcohol policy with the ACTU.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/National/story_46655.asp
FYI.. the debate that followed immediately after this has been resolved amicably by both sides, and the thread edited to keep it fully on topic. Sick Squid, Moderator.
Qantas's 38,000 employees will be asked to supply urine samples on demand under a proposed random drug and alcohol testing program.
The program is yet to be introduced because of concerns raised by the ACTU and unions representing the airline's staff.
Under the regime, employees would be asked to provide urine samples which would reveal the presence of illegal and prescription drugs taken during the previous three months.
The airline's proposed banned list includes prescription medications, including blood pressure tablets and some drugs that treat cardiovascular conditions.
ACTU senior industrial officer Richard Watts said employees could be sacked if certain prescription drugs or illegal drugs were found during testing.
"If you showed up with prescription medication in a drug test and you hadn't told your employer about it and gotten an okay, it would be a dismissable offence," Mr Watts said.
Telling the employer that certain medications were being taken could result in an employee being moved or forced to take leave, he said.
Mr Watts said many medicines were on the banned list simply because they carried warnings of possible drowsiness and the dangers of using heavy machinery if affected.
The ACTU also questioned the employer's right to test for illegal drugs.
"The employer has an obligation to provide a safe working environment but it's not the employer's role to be a moral guardian of society," Mr Watts said.
"Obviously, there's some drugs that are illegal but people take them, particularly young people.
"It doesn't necessarily mean they're impaired at work."
One alternative the union wants Qantas to consider is mouth swabs rather than urine testing, which would reveal whether someone had taken drugs in the past 48 hours.
"There aren't many drugs people take that will impair their performance for more than 48 hours," he said.
The ACTU is yet to form a firm position on drug and alcohol testing in the workplace but union officials hope to set a policy that would apply to public and private employers.
Mr Watts said the NSW government was expected to begin negotiations soon on a drug and alcohol testing program for the public transport sector, including bus and train drivers and ferry captains.
Qantas confirmed it was negotiating the introduction of a new drug and alcohol policy with the ACTU.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/National/story_46655.asp
FYI.. the debate that followed immediately after this has been resolved amicably by both sides, and the thread edited to keep it fully on topic. Sick Squid, Moderator.
Last edited by Sick Squid; 15th Mar 2003 at 04:23.
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Here we go again...
If QF staff have nothing to hide why oppose the implementation of drug testing ?
Wake up and smell the coffee, QF are just putting you on the back foot during your industrial dispute . Nothing like the ultimate management tool coming out to provide total intimidation while being totally unquestionably focussed on operational safety.
And to those getting a little defensive, lighten up, after all remember what pprune stands for so please don't challenge anyone to supply names etc..
Take the tests and prove them wrong ......
If QF staff have nothing to hide why oppose the implementation of drug testing ?
Wake up and smell the coffee, QF are just putting you on the back foot during your industrial dispute . Nothing like the ultimate management tool coming out to provide total intimidation while being totally unquestionably focussed on operational safety.
And to those getting a little defensive, lighten up, after all remember what pprune stands for so please don't challenge anyone to supply names etc..
Take the tests and prove them wrong ......
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And on a more serious note , could this just be a provocative move by Q.F management during a time of industrial uncertainty ?
It's almost like they are itching for a scrap and are just seeking the right type of fuel to ignite a full on dispute.
It's almost like they are itching for a scrap and are just seeking the right type of fuel to ignite a full on dispute.
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Has QF management told their staff that they might bring in this new procedure? (via staff newsletter, QF Cabin crew website etc).
Or are FAs and staff just hearing about this thru the rumour mill/newspapers etc?
Or are FAs and staff just hearing about this thru the rumour mill/newspapers etc?
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That's a good point VDD. The testing is rather complicated, political and difficult to implement. However it does make a good story in the paper sparking attention. I guess we should keep our eyes and ear open for any more news.
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And what would the financial burden be to QF to perform all these tests? We all know how much a medical costs, and don't drug tests have to be sent to a lab for annalysis? Theywill surely have to pay someone to do this.
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At the risk of starting a debate I don't think that a small level of drug testing is such a bad idea!!!
Before you all start going off at me about privacy etc let me explain myself....
Drugs, by their nature, can alter the chemical make up of the human body (be it for a short or long amount of time). This in turn can cause a person to act erratically, become fatigued, or any other number of side effects. Alot of these side effects can inhibit the affected person both in their reactions and their ability to think clearly under stressful situations. Now as cabin crew we are trained to deal with safety and medical incidents—both being times of great stress. We all knew when we applied for this type of work that this was the case. Therefore we should all be prepared to accept that this comes with a certain lifestyle.
I would personally be more than happy to submit myself to both random breath testing and drug testing. Of course knowing that this was going to be company policy in advance is only fair.
I am more than happy to reassure my fellow crew members when I sign on that I am totally fit and healthy for my duty!!!
Before you all start going off at me about privacy etc let me explain myself....
Drugs, by their nature, can alter the chemical make up of the human body (be it for a short or long amount of time). This in turn can cause a person to act erratically, become fatigued, or any other number of side effects. Alot of these side effects can inhibit the affected person both in their reactions and their ability to think clearly under stressful situations. Now as cabin crew we are trained to deal with safety and medical incidents—both being times of great stress. We all knew when we applied for this type of work that this was the case. Therefore we should all be prepared to accept that this comes with a certain lifestyle.
I would personally be more than happy to submit myself to both random breath testing and drug testing. Of course knowing that this was going to be company policy in advance is only fair.
I am more than happy to reassure my fellow crew members when I sign on that I am totally fit and healthy for my duty!!!
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Drug testing.....
I'll venture into the fray!
I've implemented a number of drug testing regimes as part of Government initiatives (ie, new programs that require regular drug testing)....
Generally speaking, there are a number of different test methods, mouth swabbing the cheaper of the lot and most common in workplaces.... But there are also urine test kits which can detect substances on the spot, so the samples don't need to be sent off to a lab.
These are ok, but from an industrial relations point of view, they can sometimes give a false reading, so QF (in the interests of being a good employer) should have a verfication process in place if the employee wishes to dispute the result. This can include a blood test which is generally more accurate than urine.
There are pro's and con's with drug testing in the workplace - at the end of the day you shouldn't be impaired at work but on the other hand compulsory drug testing in the wider community is usually only carried out on offenders who have it as part of their bail / release / order conditions.... So its a difficult balance, where does performance at work and regulating personal choice start and end?!
I don't know, I'm not an ethicist!
I've implemented a number of drug testing regimes as part of Government initiatives (ie, new programs that require regular drug testing)....
Generally speaking, there are a number of different test methods, mouth swabbing the cheaper of the lot and most common in workplaces.... But there are also urine test kits which can detect substances on the spot, so the samples don't need to be sent off to a lab.
These are ok, but from an industrial relations point of view, they can sometimes give a false reading, so QF (in the interests of being a good employer) should have a verfication process in place if the employee wishes to dispute the result. This can include a blood test which is generally more accurate than urine.
There are pro's and con's with drug testing in the workplace - at the end of the day you shouldn't be impaired at work but on the other hand compulsory drug testing in the wider community is usually only carried out on offenders who have it as part of their bail / release / order conditions.... So its a difficult balance, where does performance at work and regulating personal choice start and end?!
I don't know, I'm not an ethicist!
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The drugs I take are okay because I get them from Warnie's mum. 
I need to drop a couple of kilos really quickly because we are expecting a skimpy new uniform any day now. It's purely for vanity purposes, of course!...................
I need to drop a couple of kilos really quickly because we are expecting a skimpy new uniform any day now. It's purely for vanity purposes, of course!...................
