Pubdate: Sun, 24 Apr 2016
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Page: 15
Copyright: 2016 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.torontosun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457

YES TO RANDOM DRUG, ALCOHOL TESTING OF TTC STAFF

 From the public's perspective, testing TTC operators and managers for
drugs and alcohol after there's been a serious accident doesn't do
much good.

Of course it's important in assigning blame and compensation for what
happened, but it's the equivalent of closing the barn door after the
horse has fled.

The damage has been done.

The real value of drug and alcohol testing lies in screening workers
randomly before an accident happens, so that they do not endanger
public safety.

That's why we support the TTC's plan to begin random drug and alcohol
testing for TTC operators and management who are responsible for rider
safety.

The primary purpose of random testing is not to catch and punish
individual offenders, but to discourage the use of alcohol and drugs
on the job by imposing a real risk of getting caught.

Human nature being what it is, random testing discourages abuse
because people know they could be subjected to it at any time.

TTC CEO Andy Byford - who would also be subject to random testing -
says a growing number of TTC employees, 36 since 2014 alone, have
either failed or refused to undergo scheduled screening tests.

That suggests a bigger problem.

If dozens of workers are failing or refusing to take alcohol and drug
tests they know in advance they have to undergo, how many more are
abusing drugs or alcohol believing they won't be caught, due to the
absence of random testing?

Such testing should be limited to employees who are on the job or
about to start work, as what they do on their own time doesn't impact
public safety on the TTC.

TTC employees should also be free to admit to drug and alcohol
problems before they are caught, with the promise they will be sent
into rehab rather than fired or otherwise disciplined.

This will drive home the point that the purpose of random alcohol and
drug testing is not is not to punish individuals but to reduce the
risk of impaired TTC operators putting the public at risk.

The manner in which the TTC now tests its employees on the job, known
as its Fitness for Duty program, is already the subject of a lengthy,
ongoing arbitration hearing.

TTC union president Bob Kinnear says the problem isn't as serious as
Byford suggests and accused him of ignoring the TTC's contract with
its workers by unilaterally announcing the go-ahead of random testing.

Kinnear said the union will be considering its legal options which
could include a court challenge.

Be that as it may, it's time for the TTC to move ahead with random
drug and alcohol testing and for the provincial government to make it
mandatory for public transit agencies.

The only real question, from the point of view of public safety, is
why it wasn't done years ago.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D