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Showing posts from February, 2014

Union successful in fight to ban urine drug tests

Vicky Validakis Australian Mining Fair Work Commission supports the use of Saliva Drug Tests Testing the urine of workers in order to detect drug and alcohol use has been banned by the Fair Work Commission which found employees at Endeavour Energy are to be tested using saliva swabs instead. Last week the Fair Work Commission refused Endeavour Energy's bid to urine test its 2635 employees. The commission labelled the use of urine tests “unjust and unreasonable” in a case which could have wider implications for a range of industries, including mining. Endeavour Energy launched the latest legal action in October last year, with the matter heard in the Fair Work Commission in December. The company was attempting to vary the original decision, which required the use of oral testing, with urine based testing. The Electrical Trades Union said the decision confirmed two previous court rulings that found the use of urine test was unfair because it could detect drug u

Union to mount challenge against drug tests for miners

By Babs McHugh ABC Rural Miners preference Saliva Drug Tests over Urine Drug Tests A union plans to mount a legal challenge against urine testing for drugs on mine sites. The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union has called it intrusive and degrading and wants urine tests replaced with saliva tests. Secretary of the West Australian branch, Steve McCartney, says saliva tests are used by police and the judiciary and should be implemented on mine sites. "Now we've got the technology that proves saliva testing works, why would we have our members subjected the indignity of having to do a urine test?" he said. "Not only a urine test, but a urine test in company (of others) or under camera surveillance. "So there's an issue for our members that's there somebody from the company standing around while you're urinating in front of them, while there's a test that proves the same fitness for work by simply putting a stick