Members are advised that your union, in concert with Professionals Australia & the ETU are in dispute proceedings with the business over Endeavour’s proposal to expand the scope of its Alcohol & Other Drugs policy.
Endeavour’s proposal sought:
- A blanket Blood Alcohol Concentration (“BAC”) of .00%. Presently, dependant on your role, the BAC thresholds are .00%, .02% and .05%;
- A “blended” random testing model that would see 50% of tests conducted via oral swab and 50% conducted by provision of a urine sample;
- Post Incident Testing, For Cause/Suspicion and Return to Work Target Testing be conducted by provision of a urine sample; and
- Secondary testing via laboratory urine testing in the event of a “non-negative” oral swab.
In response, the combined unions proposed:
- Status quo in regards to the BAC levels;
- The introduction of an education program;
- Increased oral swab testing at sites, in depots and out in the field;
- Post incident testing via oral swab and BAC;
- A protocol of follow up care in the case of a non-negative oral swab; and
- A reduction in stand down time when, in the case of a non-negative swab, the sample needs to be sent to a laboratory for further analysis. The current stand down period after a non- negative is 3 days. The business and unions largely agree that a 3 day stand down period isn’t in anyone’s interest and a reduction in time is subject to the availability of testing facilities.
The business rejected the combined unions’ proposals. The combined unions then placed the matter in dispute for resolution via the dispute resolution procedure contained in your Agreement.
For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact our Support Centre on 1300 136 604 or your organiser, Troy Dunne, on 0419 403 076 or at tdunne@usu.org.au
