Health and Safety

PSAC Policy 29
Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing

The Public Service Alliance of Canada considers substance abuse or misuse a serious public health problem that can affect all levels of our society and one which must be addressed in a humane and therapeutic manner, not a punitive one. However, substance abuse and misuse are not new problems and recent information demonstrates that the problem is not on the rise in Canada. Therefore mandatory drug and alcohol testing is unjustifiable.

In most peoples' minds when we refer to drugs, we think of drugs and alcohol and their abuse. Because of proposed legislation, we now have to think of drugs as encompassing legal and illegal drugs, alcohol, and prescribed and non-prescribed (over the counter) medication, even disinfectants.

We also have to think of drugs in terms of their use, misuse and abuse. It is one thing to use a prescribed or non-prescribed medication, it is another story when medication is misused. Abuse of any medication, drug or alcohol would cause serious problems. In the proposed legislation, testing will cover all substances and their legitimate use, as well as misuse and abuse. Therefore testing has a serious impact on those affected by the proposed legislation.

The PSAC has the following policy on workplace drug and alcohol testing:

1. The PSAC opposes all forms of workplace drug and alcohol testing for any reason whatsoever.

2. The PSAC believes that drug and alcohol testing will not solve the problems of abuse and misuse nor will it help the affected persons because it does not address the cause of the problem.

3. Based on current information, the PSAC believes that drug and alcohol testing methods remain unreliable and can be used against the worker.

4. Based on actual Canadian studies, the PSAC is convinced that there is no drug epidemic in the country.

5. The PSAC recognizes that there is no conclusive evidence of a link between drug abuse and public safety, and drug abuse and workplace safety.

6. The PSAC believes drug and alcohol testing is an invasion of privacy, and a threat to workers' dignity.

7. The PSAC is convinced that the solution to drug and alcohol use, abuse and misuse can be achieved through prevention, education, rehabilitation, union counselling and joint employee assistance programs.

8. The PSAC recognizes its obligation to protect the rights of its members including the right to privacy, the right to a safe and healthy workplace, as well as an obligation to ensure that no legislation, policy or program can jeopardize these rights.

PSAC Action Plan

To live up to its position, the PSAC will undertake the following union actions:

1. Pressure federal, provincial and territorial governments to prohibit drug and alcohol testing in the workplace.

2. Pressure all levels of government to significantly expand or develop preventive, educational and life skills programs to fight drug and alcohol use, abuse and misuse.

3. Pressure all levels of government to significantly expand rehabilitative resources including the funding of workers' clinics.

4. Press for changes to Human Rights Acts and the Privacy Act to ensure protection against drug and alcohol testing.

5. Provide appropriate assistance and support to our members in cases where drug and alcohol testing is used to discriminate against them in the workplace or to infringe on their workplace rights.

6. Promote union counselling and joint employee assistance programs.

7. Where joint employee assistance programs exist, pressure the employer to ensure that confidentiality and anonymity are protected, to make program services available to family members and to ensure that competent persons, including union counsellors, provide the counselling.

8. Pressure for the elimination of workplace and social stressors which lead to drug and alcohol use, abuse and misuse.

9. Pressure all levels of government to strengthen and enforce health and safety laws.

10. Pressure the federal government to increase resources to ensure the interdiction of illegal drugs entering the country.