Drug Testing At Boeing Rejected By Machinists

Boeing machinists have overwhelmingly rejected the company's proposed drug-testing plan in a companywide vote held over the past two weeks.

Officials of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District Lodge 751 (IAM) said today that Boeing's plan was rejected by 86 percent of those voting. District 751 represents more than 50,000 machinists in Seattle, Wichita and Portland, but the union would not disclose how many voted.

The next move is up to Boeing, which must decide whether to implement the plan over machinists' objections or work out an agreement more acceptable to workers. Company officials could not be reached for comment.

Tom Baker, president of District 751, has said the union will go to court to block Boeing from implementing the plan if necessary.

Boeing's plan provides for drug testing after on-the-job accidents and where there is ``reasonable suspicion'' an employee is using drugs. The program allows employees to enter a drug-treatment program after their first offense; the company reserves the right to fire workers after the second offense.

Boeing and its unions began negotiating a drug plan this summer. Initially, according to the unions, the company called for random testing of all employees. But the company retreated from that proposal during negotiations, the unions say.

Boeing's second-biggest union, the Seattle Professional Engineering Employees Association (SPEEA), earlier approved the same drug-testing program without a vote by members.

Buck Cameron, spokesman for IAM, said members think the Boeing plan is an invasion of privacy. He said members are in favor of a safe, drug-free workplace but don't like Boeing's plan to achieve it.

Baker said the plan should focus on counseling rather than threats. He said workers should get at least three chances before being fired.

Boeing has said it thinks its plan does focus on counseling. In addition, SPEEA representatives said they consider the plan acceptable because it gives employees an opportunity to solve their drug problems without being fired.