Unions file claims in drugs test case

A test case on whether employers have the right to drugs-test workers has taken another step forward.

Six unions, headed by the EPMU, have filed their statement of claim in the Employment Court in a challenge against Air New Zealand’s plans to introduce drugs testing of its 10,000 employees.

The unions have been given the right to have their case heard by a full bench of three judges of the Employment Court.

The unions say that workplace drugs testing is illegal. They argue that in seeking to impose a drugs testing regime, the company is assuming rights that it does not have.

The unions are seeking a permanent injunction preventing Air New Zealand from implementing the drugs testing programme.

The case, scheduled to start on October 6, is expected to take a week. The unions involved are the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU), the Flight Attendants and Related Services Association (Farsa), the Aviation and Marine Engineers’ Association, the Service and Food Workers’ Union, the Aviation Industry Officers’ Union and Pegasus.

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