Another FireFighter Union On WRONG SIDE of Drug Testing Debate?
Austin intense heat union officials have challenged a proposal that would want firefighters to be randomly drug tested, saying they want to know what prompted the possible policy because the city before that time has rules prohibiting drug exercise among workers.
During negotiations this week for a new employment contract, union officials said they would need to discuss with city officials the meaning of “nothing tolerance,” and they questioned whether residents had expressed concern near possible drug use among the 1,000-member department.
They also asked city officials to provide information about how frequently firefighters have been found to be using drugs. Several other major Texas cities already have similar drug-testing policies for firefighters.
“Help us understand the issue,” declared firefighter Craig Phillips, chair of the union’s bargaining team. “It’s a broader-based issue than just saying, ‘Well, everybody should be assured firefighters are drug-free.’ Well, no duh.”
“Have there been some kind of problems with drug use in the department or the kind of?”
Union representatives said they aren’t necessarily resistant to a random drug-testing policy. They said they did not receive a draft of the measure until Tuesday.
“We understand the city’s position, and we are certainly willing to work with them toward a explication,” said Stephen Truesdell, president of the fire union.
“We want to make sure there isn’t an underlying problem that we aren’t aware of. We and the agreement want to do everything we can to refrain from our membership.”
The discussion comes as city officials and fire union representatives look as far as concerns to accomplish an employment contract that also direct one’s speech such matters in the same manner with offer, vacation time, and hiring and promotions procedures.
The current incur expires Sept. 30 and does not include random drug testing. If the two sides do not reach an agreement, firefighters would return to working under state civil service laws.
Austin firefighters too serve as first-responders, frequently arriving on medical calls or other emergencies minutes before paramedics. They can assist patients in administering their own medication, in some instances.
Assistant City Manager Michael McDonald, who is leading negotiations for the city, said the proposal would help assure the public that Austin firefighters are drug-free. The public has higher expectations for the city’s public safety and emergency services workers, McDonald said.
“We think it would be good according to this community to know that we have programs probably that in place,” he said.
McDonald related random testing would also provide an provocative for employees to last drug-free.
The department currently tests coming firefighters for the time of the hiring process concerning possible drug use, when they are involved in a eminently expressive accident or when officials suspect they are using drugs.
The city also has a prudence prohibiting employees from using drugs.
Austin police officers have been randomly drug pure since 2002 for controlled substances, inhalants, marijuana and “prescription drugs or over-the-counter drugs that were obtained under false pretenses or by any other unlawful means,” according to department policy.
Austin-Travis County paramedics recently agreed in contract negotiations with the city to receive random drug tests.
In Texas, firefighters in Dallas, San Antonio and Houston also are subject to random remedy testing, officials in those departments aforesaid.
The outlet of mandatory deaden with narcotics testing has been debated in other cities, including Boston, according to published reports.
On that city, union officials have rejected wandering drug testing if not they receive certain concessions.