Royal Mail to start drug and alcohol testing?

[LouBarlow]

Why would you do that?

Because not everybody is a corporate shrill bootlicker like you are. Clearly. I don’t do drugs, never smoked and rarely drink but I won’t be consenting to testing as I don’t believe I should bend over and conform to my capitalist overlords like you seem to be implying I should. If it results in my employment being compromised, then fair enough. Some of us have lines we refuse to cross and providing samples to be tested by my employer is one of mine.

[scotchy1962]

So drug and alcohol testing, i do hope as others have said, that it is inclusive of the whole workforce..... top to bottom.
Who will do the testing and what form it will take? Are we blowing into machines or are they attempting to take bodily fluids?
They will have to be careful as while i will quite happily blow into a machine, if they produce a needle i am afraid my consent will be withdrawn.
I have nothing to fear from these tests as i don't drink much nowadays and drugs haven't been my thing in a very long time, but taking my blood won't be happening and maybe not even any other fluid either.
Lets see where this goes as i would imagine they need us onside for it to work, it is all getting a little "1984" in the working environment and i for one don't like it.

[Tman]

Because not everybody is a corporate shrill bootlicker like you are. Clearly. I don’t do drugs, never etc etc.

Yeah, so you've said before. It was a load of nonsense then too.

[Barnacle]

So drug and alcohol testing, i do hope as others have said, that it is inclusive of the whole workforce..... top to bottom.
Who will do the testing and what form it will take? Are we blowing into machines or are they attempting to take bodily fluids?
They will have to be careful as while i will quite happily blow into a machine, if they produce a needle i am afraid my consent will be withdrawn.
I have nothing to fear from these tests as i don't drink much nowadays and drugs haven't been my thing in a very long time, but taking my blood won't be happening and maybe not even any other fluid either.
Lets see where this goes as i would imagine they need us onside for it to work, it is all getting a little "1984" in the working environment and i for one don't like it.

It is a bit 1984 and relentlessly grim. I personally don’t believe they would be extracting fluids. I think it would be a breathalyser and a tongue scrape just like the police do. Fluid extraction might come into the equation if you failed the tests and disputed the result I suppose.

[LouBarlow]

Because not everybody is a corporate shrill bootlicker like you are. Clearly. I don’t do drugs, never etc etc.

Yeah, so you've said before. It was a load of nonsense then too.

I’ll do it boss. Please let me keep my job boss Pathetic.

[2chorizon]

Why would you do that?

Because not everybody is a corporate shrill bootlicker like you are. Clearly. I don’t do drugs, never smoked and rarely drink but I won’t be consenting to testing as I don’t believe I should bend over and conform to my capitalist overlords like you seem to be implying I should. If it results in my employment being compromised, then fair enough. Some of us have lines we refuse to cross and providing samples to be tested by my employer is one of mine.

Hey Lou, why don’t you try that “Freeman of the Land” stuff on them too?

[2chorizon]

So drug and alcohol testing, i do hope as others have said, that it is inclusive of the whole workforce..... top to bottom.
Who will do the testing and what form it will take? Are we blowing into machines or are they attempting to take bodily fluids?
They will have to be careful as while i will quite happily blow into a machine, if they produce a needle i am afraid my consent will be withdrawn.
I have nothing to fear from these tests as i don't drink much nowadays and drugs haven't been my thing in a very long time, but taking my blood won't be happening and maybe not even any other fluid either.
Lets see where this goes as i would imagine they need us onside for it to work, it is all getting a little "1984" in the working environment and i for one don't like it.

It is a bit 1984 and relentlessly grim. I personally don’t believe they would be extracting fluids. I think it would be a breathalyser and a tongue scrape just like the police do. Fluid extraction might come into the equation if you failed the tests and disputed the result I suppose.

It is usually a urine test (6 main drugs) & a breathalyser for alcohol.

There are mouth swabs but this is considered invasive, however it maybe the choice due to lack of facilities in DO’s.
You’ll just get a spiv in a cheap suit and a briefcase turn up and swab you in that case, spiv will be from Aquarius Life or Abbots the testing company they employ.

(they would need to have both male & female testers too for obvious reasons)

[reddevils]

.

[Barnacle]

Hair samples I've heard for cannabis and other drugs.

I think Lou Barlow has a great point even though people are mocking or using the legal argument or taking the moral high ground so are essentially saying there is no argument.

Even if it is legally correct, does that mean its right? Most of Europe have made this testing illegal.

Its like in the strike, Royal mail used Temps/agency to get the tracked out every day we were out on strike, it has now been made illegal to use temps/agency on a strike day. It is suddenly not legal and morally not right just because of a law change.

It does shock me the submissiveness/ lack of character and lack of intellect where people support a business that is very quickly taking everything away from them.

There are good reasons why this is an invasion of privacy, against human rights if you believe in that concept , and is a extreme exploitation of the employee/worker relationship.

People always look at the simplicity of well I don't take drugs, don't like druggies, I have nothing to fear. You don't see the big picture.

They haven’t asked us to consent to anything yet. Only sent out a blue card warning shot and produced a creepy support document which invites you to ruin your life by admitting to them you have a problem.

[Mr Rush]

Anyone who refuses will probably be suspended.

Reasonable assumption is that testing would occur in the morning when the majority of staff are present at the same time. For a uncompliant non-driver, though, I don't see management ripping bundles out of hands during tie-down, or unloading the van of all the Tracked, or snatching bags off people mid-loop, etc. Cynically, once the walk is clear then you'll be suspended.

Given that we don't drive enough on P&L to stop the damned particle filter from clogging up, can the job really be classified as professional driving?

[reddevils]

.

[2chorizon]

Hair samples I've heard for cannabis and other drugs.

I think Lou Barlow has a great point even though people are mocking or using the legal argument or taking the moral high ground so are essentially saying there is no argument.

Even if it is legally correct, does that mean its right? Most of Europe have made this testing illegal.

Its like in the strike, Royal mail used Temps/agency to get the tracked out every day we were out on strike, it has now been made illegal to use temps/agency on a strike day. It is suddenly not legal and morally not right just because of a law change.

It does shock me the submissiveness/ lack of character and lack of intellect where people support a business that is very quickly taking everything away from them.

There are good reasons why this is an invasion of privacy, against human rights if you believe in that concept , and is a extreme exploitation of the employee/worker relationship.

People always look at the simplicity of well I don't take drugs, don't like druggies, I have nothing to fear. You don't see the big picture.

They haven’t asked us to consent to anything yet. Only sent out a blue card warning shot and produced a creepy support document which invites you to ruin your life by admitting to them you have a problem.

https://www.cwu.org/ltb/ltb-343-24-roya ... ol-policy/

25th October 2024

Dear Colleagues,

Royal Mail Introduction of New Drug and Alcohol Policy

We are writing to advise Branches that the Royal Mail Executive Board has made a decision to introduce a new Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Royal Mail initially approached the Union in August 2024 informing us that the new policy would include three distinct activities:

The launch of a support and rehabilitation service.

A pilot and roll out of for cause drug and alcohol testing.

The introduction of random drug and alcohol testing.

Whilst we recognise that many companies operate test regimes for specific employee groups who work in safety critical roles, the current proposals go way beyond what could be viewed as appropriate or reasonable in our view.

The CWU has raised significant concerns around all three aspects of their proposals.  The CWU have also stated that we will not support any launch of random testing.

Royal Mail have indicated they would listen to the CWU concerns and potentially change the way they were intending to introduce the rehabilitation process, the pilot on for cause and will delay the introduction of random testing.

We have further meetings with Royal Mail over the next two weeks and will update Branches in due course.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to hford@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (P)                                 

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary                                                   

Bobby Weatherall
Acting Assistant Secretary

Tony Bouch
Assistant Secretary

[Basildon Bond]

I personally don't want to be driven about in a van where the driver is high (because they justify it for "health" reasons) nor over the limit (because they drink into the small hours to dampen the chaos in their life).

Is this too simple a request: If you hate the company...leave. Stop bitching about all the changes. Go. Fu*k off. Find something better. Royal Mail is not the only job in town. It's not the 1980's guys and gals. It's not the 1990's or the early 2000's. The world changes - you CAN change with it. Does a large company try to fu*k you over? Sure. 100%. It's your choice to keep turning up - and I think you hate it that you do. It's all you know (have a gulp or toke).

I really have had it on these threads where leaving just isn't an option and the die-hards with just dig their heels in. Like it's a right of theirs to have things NEVER change? Who appointed you in charge of the RM rudder? It moves however the board and management decide and it's for you to decide if the job is what you want or not. Go on, argue with that! That's the naked truth.

I come here for a bit of banter; a bit of "what's new?"; a bit of interest.

I'm sorry. I'm probably a bit drunk right now. But I'll be sober come tomorrow.

[Barnacle]

Hair samples I've heard for cannabis and other drugs.

I think Lou Barlow has a great point even though people are mocking or using the legal argument or taking the moral high ground so are essentially saying there is no argument.

Even if it is legally correct, does that mean its right? Most of Europe have made this testing illegal.

Its like in the strike, Royal mail used Temps/agency to get the tracked out every day we were out on strike, it has now been made illegal to use temps/agency on a strike day. It is suddenly not legal and morally not right just because of a law change.

It does shock me the submissiveness/ lack of character and lack of intellect where people support a business that is very quickly taking everything away from them.

There are good reasons why this is an invasion of privacy, against human rights if you believe in that concept , and is a extreme exploitation of the employee/worker relationship.

People always look at the simplicity of well I don't take drugs, don't like druggies, I have nothing to fear. You don't see the big picture.

They haven’t asked us to consent to anything yet. Only sent out a blue card warning shot and produced a creepy support document which invites you to ruin your life by admitting to them you have a problem.

https://www.cwu.org/ltb/ltb-343-24-roya ... ol-policy/

25th October 2024

Dear Colleagues,

Royal Mail Introduction of New Drug and Alcohol Policy

We are writing to advise Branches that the Royal Mail Executive Board has made a decision to introduce a new Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Royal Mail initially approached the Union in August 2024 informing us that the new policy would include three distinct activities:

The launch of a support and rehabilitation service.

A pilot and roll out of for cause drug and alcohol testing.

The introduction of random drug and alcohol testing.

Whilst we recognise that many companies operate test regimes for specific employee groups who work in safety critical roles, the current proposals go way beyond what could be viewed as appropriate or reasonable in our view.

The CWU has raised significant concerns around all three aspects of their proposals.  The CWU have also stated that we will not support any launch of random testing.

Royal Mail have indicated they would listen to the CWU concerns and potentially change the way they were intending to introduce the rehabilitation process, the pilot on for cause and will delay the introduction of random testing.

We have further meetings with Royal Mail over the next two weeks and will update Branches in due course.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to hford@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (P)                                 

Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary                                                   

Bobby Weatherall
Acting Assistant Secretary

Tony Bouch
Assistant Secretary

Yes I read that. RM haven’t asked for consent yet.
Interesting that the CWU says it will not agree to random testing. The testing has to be random so that there is no whiff of discrimination. Only way you can test someone by sight is if they appear to be under the influence.

[reddevils]

.