Nandor applauds workplace drug agreement

Green MP Nandor Tanczos today congratulated the NZ Dairy Workers Union and NZ Dairy Foods for negotiating a world leading policy on alcohol and other drugs in the workplace.

"This is a groundbreaking agreement in New Zealand that shifts the focus from invasive testing and retribution to one of worker safety and treatment," said Nandor, the Green spokesperson for Drug Policy.

"Many companies are rightly concerned about the abuse of alcohol and other drugs in the workplace. This agreement shows that there is a more effective way of dealing with the problem than urine testing and summary dismissal.

"This is especially welcome at a time when Air New Zealand's random testing procedure is being challenged in the courts.

"The Dairy Worker's Union and NZ Dairy Foods are to be congratulated for taking a progressive and responsible approach to alcohol and other drugs in the workplace.

"The foundation of the policy is workers taking responsibility for themselves and their colleagues, backed up by the union. No one wants to work with unsafe workmates.

"A worker who feels they have a problem will now have the confidence to seek help without fear of dismissal, unlike in many other workplaces. People will also be able to challenge colleagues without the fear that it will lead to mates losing their job.

"The emphasis is on making sure anyone identified, by themselves or their workmates, as having a problem with alcohol or other drugs has support to address their addiction.

"It's about protecting workers and the public from unsafe practises, rather than creating a mechanism to expand managerial control. It also recognises that the causes of impairment go well beyond the substances commonly detected by urine tests," said Nandor.

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