Council delays drug testing

West Lothian Council has again delayed a final decision on whether to enforce its plans for random drug tests for staff.

The council’s Partnership and Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel agreed on Friday to extend the moratorium on tests until November 30.

Unions threatened strike action at the plans which would see only certain staff members subject to random testing. Both major unions, the GMB and Unison, object to the proposal that only those in posts deemed“safety critical” would be liable. These include HGV drivers and those operating other heavy machinery.

The council first mooted plans to upgrade the rules on testing in September last year. This followed incidents of drug raids at cleansing depots.

Strike ballots were held by GMB staff and the union only called off the threat on industrial action in early April following the lockdown and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Both major unions maintain that random testing should be applied to all.

A report to committee last week said:“It is Unison’s position that they will accept the use of with cause alcohol, drug and other substance testing for ALL staff OR we will accept the use of both with cause and random testing for ALL staff but we will enter dispute should the use of random testing for selected groups of employees commence.

“Similar representations have been made by other recognised trade unions including GMB and UNITE who have balloted members on industrial action specifically with reference to random testing of select groups.

“The EIS position is that they are opposed to random testing and have instructed members to withdraw from arrangements to voluntarily transport pupils if they are subjected to random testing.”