Law to target drug using workers

Gov. John Engler requested the policy, which covers 16,000 state employees.

The state says the "zero tolerance" policy for illegal drugs means any covered worker found with detectable illegal drugs will be fired.

A blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 percent at work will lead to some sort of discipline, including firing. That is one-fifth the 0.1 percent limit for drunken driving.

One drink at lunch could cause a level in excess of the 0.02 percent limit.

"I think the state is taking a pretty hard line," Ted Benca, deputy director of the Michigan Department of Civil Service, told Booth Newspapers. "You don't come to work drunk or high, you betcha."

The new rule affects non-union state workers, mostly professionals, managers and supervisors, but is being negotiated with unions to expand it to all 58,000 state workers next year. Another drug-testing policy has been held up in court for two years, challenged by unions.

Twenty-five other states require drug testing of all employees, according to the Council of State Governments, but it is unclear how many states test for alcohol.

Jan Winters, director of the Office of State Employer, said the new policy is expected to cost the state about $225,000 a year.

Union leaders say the testing appears inevitable. Fred Parks, executive director of the 10,000-member Michigan Corrections Officers, said guards are unhappy with the prospect. He said 0.02 percent is just too low.

"That's a good slug of Nyquil," he said. "It's kind of Draconian. It's really an invasion the way they want to do it."

Lynda Taylor-Lewis, president of the United Auto Workers Local 6000, representing 20,000 workers, agreed.

"This is almost a way the state's trying to control you for 24 hours a day, when they're paying you for eight," she said.

The Michigan Civil Service Commission in March passed the drug-testing policy for the non-union employees. It also required all potential new state employees to submit to drug testing before they can be hired.

In addition, employees in safety-sensitive positions, such as those who work at state mental hospitals and prisons or drive machinery, will be tested randomly for drug and alcohol use. Some transportation department workers are already being tested due to federal requirements.

Those not in safety-sensitive jobs are subject to testing if their supervisors are suspicious of drug use.

Over the past several weeks, state departments have been holding informational meetings for workers affected by the policy.

Some workers have raised questions over whether cocktail parties at professional conferences count.

"Our position is that on-duty activity, whether you're representing our state at a convention or sitting in your office, means that you don't drink," Benca said.

Engler spokesperson John Truscott said the policy is fair because employees are given two chances in their career to self-report a substance abuse problem before they are caught.

He said the governor signed an executive order Thursday to place the 177 gubernatorial appointees under the same policy.

tr

ict drug, drinking rules for non-union state workers

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Non-union state employees who use illegal drugs, misuse prescription drugs or drink during the work day will be subject to firing under a policy that takes effect Sunday.

Gov. John Engler requested the policy, which covers 16,000 state employees.

The state says the "zero tolerance" policy for illegal drugs means any covered worker found with detectable illegal drugs will be fired.

A blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 percent at work will lead to some sort of discipline, including firing. That is one-fifth the 0.1 percent limit for drunken driving.

One drink at lunch could cause a level in excess of the 0.02 percent limit.

"I think the state is taking a pretty hard line," Ted Benca, deputy director of the Michigan Department of Civil Service, told Booth Newspapers. "You don't come to work drunk or high, you betcha."

The new rule affects non-union state workers, mostly professionals, managers and supervisors, but is being negotiated with unions to expand it to all 58,000 state workers next year. Another drug-testing policy has been held up in court for two years, challenged by unions.

Twenty-five other states require drug testing of all employees, according to the Council of State Governments, but it is unclear how many states test for alcohol.

Jan Winters, director of the Office of State Employer, said the new policy is expected to cost the state about $225,000 a year.

Union leaders say the testing appears inevitable. Fred Parks, executive director of the 10,000-member Michigan Corrections Officers, said guards are unhappy with the prospect. He said 0.02 percent is just too low.

"That's a good slug of Nyquil," he said. "It's kind of Draconian. It's really an invasion the way they want to do it."

Lynda Taylor-Lewis, president of the United Auto Workers Local 6000, representing 20,000 workers, agreed.

"This is almost a way the state's trying to control you for 24 hours a day, when they're paying you for eight," she said.

The Michigan Civil Service Commission in March passed the drug-testing policy for the non-union employees. It also required all potential new state employees to submit to drug testing before they can be hired.

In addition, employees in safety-sensitive positions, such as those who work at state mental hospitals and prisons or drive machinery, will be tested randomly for drug and alcohol use. Some transportation department workers are already being tested due to federal requirements.

Those not in safety-sensitive jobs are subject to testing if their supervisors are suspicious of drug use.

Over the past several weeks, state departments have been holding informational meetings for workers affected by the policy.

Some workers have raised questions over whether cocktail parties at professional conferences count.

"Our position is that on-duty activity, whether you're representing our state at a convention or sitting in your office, means that you don't drink," Benca said.

Engler spokesperson John Truscott said the policy is fair because employees are given two chances in their career to self-report a substance abuse problem before they are caught.

He said the governor signed an executive order Thursday to place the 177 gubernatorial appointees under the same policy

09-29-98