Union Fights Drug-Test Policy

Boeing's two biggest unions have split over their positions on a proposed drug-testing and treatment program. The machinists' union is fighting the plan while the engineers' and technicians' union has agreed to it.

In a recent letter to members, the machinists' union sharply criticized the policy, which provides for drug testing after some on-the-job accidents and where there is ``reasonable suspicion'' that an employee is using drugs.

``(The Boeing plan) uses a police-state mentality and threats of termination - even against those who voluntarily seek help,'' said Tom Baker, president of District Lodge 751 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).

The IAM, which represents about 53,000 Boeing machinists nationwide, has scheduled a vote to poll its members' sentiment on the drug policy. The balloting begins today and ends Nov. 14.

Baker said he hopes members will vote against the proposal and Boeing will agree to negotiate a more acceptable plan with the IAM. If Boeing won't negotiate, said Baker, the IAM will go to court to try to stop the company from implementing the plan.

Baker compared the vote on drug testing to a normal contract vote. ``They could implement the policy over the objections of members, but they'd be declaring war. I can't imagine they'd want to do that.''

Boeing won't comment on what will happen if IAM members vote against the proposal.

As the IAM vote begins, Boeing's second-largest union is preparing to tell its members that it finds the plan acceptable.

Dan Mahoney, acting executive director of the Seattle Professional Engineering Employees Association (SPEEA), said the union has signed a letter of intent to accept the company's policy. SPEEA represents 27,000 Boeing engineers and technical workers in the Seattle area. He said SPEEA is announcing the agreement in its next newsletter.

Mahoney said SPEEA succeeded in getting the company to back off from an earlier proposal that provided random drug tests for all Boeing employees. The drug-testing plan agreed to by SPEEA is the same one being voted on by the IAM.

``We achieved major changes in the policy as originally proposed by Boeing,'' said Mahoney. ``Under the new plan, the emphasis is on rehabilitation rather than punishment.''

Kerry Dolan, Boeing's corporate personnel manager, contends, however, that Boeing never planned to randomly test all employees. But Dolan said the new drug policy, scheduled to go into effect in December, is a big improvement over the current policy, which allows the company to fire anyone who is found to be

using drugs or alcohol at work.

``We now have a zero-tolerance plan,'' said Dolan. ``An employee is terminated if we determine the person is using drugs. The new plan focuses on rehabilitation and treatment. It's much better.''

The plan calls for employees who test positive for drugs or alcohol once to get rehabilitation and a second chance. If they test positive a second time, they'll be terminated.

The plan also calls for periodic random testing of about 3,100 of 150,000 Boeing employees nationwide. Of those, less than 100 are SPEEA members and about 1,550

are IAM members, according to Boeing. Random drug tests are required under U.S. Department of Transportation guidelines for certain jobs specifically related to flight safety such as ground-crew technicians, flight crews and instructors.

Dolan said the company is anxious to have the IAM approve the plan because it wants the same drug policy to apply to all employees.

But Baker said the proposal will hurt IAM members the most.

``Especially the provisions for testing after accidents,'' he said. ``Our members are the ones who'll be impacted because they do more dangerous work.''

Mahoney wouldn't comment on why SPEEA would find the drug plan acceptable while IAM doesn't. Baker said SPEEA members aren't as likely to be directly affected like IAM workers, which may make SPEEA less militant about opposing the plan.

Boeing has been drug testing new employees since 1987. In 1989, the company announced it was considering a drug-testing plan for all employees because of concern over workplace safety and quality of work.

Dolan said the company is anxious to tackle drug problems as a way to reduce mistakes and the need to redo work. He said Boeing does not know how much drug use may be costing the company.