Lt. Governor, UPW Leaders Sign Drug Testing Pact
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Lt. Governor Aiona and United Public Workers (UPW) State Director Dayton Nakanelua signed an agreement Thursday to implement a random drug testing program for more than 2,300 state employees.
Lt. Governor Aiona signs an alcohol and controlled substance testing supplement agreement with UPW State Director Dayton Nakanelua and Cindy Inouye, deputy director, Department of Human Resources Development.
The new agreement, which is the first to include both reasonable suspicion and random drug testing for state employees not subject to federally required commercial driver’s license drug testing laws, will take effect in approximately 30 days. The program will affect 2,319 blue collar, non-supervisory state employees in Bargaining Unit 01.
“These workers want a safe and drug-free environment,” Lt. Governor Aiona said in reference to employees of Bargaining Unit 01, which include janitors, automotive mechanics and audio-visual technicians. “They were willing to put a lot of hard work and long hours into an agreement we can all be proud of.”
In April 2007, 94.5 percent of Bargaining Unit 01 members voted in favor of the drug testing program as part of their two-year contract that runs through June 30, 2009.
Dayton Nakanelua, state director for the United Public Workers (UPW), said the drug-testing provision was important to the union’s members. “This agreement reflects the concern of our members for workplace safety,” he said. “They want to be part of the solution to this important issue.”
“No employer is too large or too small to feel the harmful effects of substance abuse or the benefits of testing employees,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “Implementing an alcohol and controlled substance program that includes both reasonable suspicion and random drug testing is an effective deterrent and a welcome part of the solution.”
“These workers want a safe and drug-free environment,” Lt. Governor Aiona said in reference to employees of Bargaining Unit 01, which include janitors, automotive mechanics and audio-visual technicians. “They were willing to put a lot of hard work and long hours into an agreement we can all be proud of.”
In April 2007, 94.5 percent of Bargaining Unit 01 members voted in favor of the drug testing program as part of their two-year contract that runs through June 30, 2009.
Dayton Nakanelua, state director for the United Public Workers (UPW), said the drug-testing provision was important to the union’s members. “This agreement reflects the concern of our members for workplace safety,” he said. “They want to be part of the solution to this important issue.”
“No employer is too large or too small to feel the harmful effects of substance abuse or the benefits of testing employees,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “Implementing an alcohol and controlled substance program that includes both reasonable suspicion and random drug testing is an effective deterrent and a welcome part of the solution.”
