Years and years of disputes between teachers and the state over drug testing for teachers looks like it may have finally come to an end. The state of Hawaii has dropped a complaint before the Hawaii Labor Relations Board on the issue, the teachers union announced Monday.
Random drug testing was not included in the states “last, best and final” contract offer for teachers imposed July 1. Instead, teachers are subject to “reasonable suspicion” drug tests, which the union supports. The announcement Monday ends a long battle over the issue.
This seems like a fair agreement I guess. We all know that many of our teachers do drugs, but now they can still do them and not be subject to drug testing unless there is “reasonable suspicion.” What that means is anyone’s guess. Hawaii is already #1 for use of meth in the workplace, so this agreement only solidifies the fact that the state really doesn’t care what its teachers do.
“This is four years in regards to this,” said Wil Okabe, president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. He added that though HSTA does not support random testing, “no teacher thinks that any other teacher should use illegal drugs.”
Penalties Spelled Out
Under the imposed contract, a supervisor can call a teacher in if impairment is suspected. When a “positive determination” of impairment is made, in front of a witness, the teacher is escorted to a testing site. Teachers who refuse to be tested “shall be discharged.”
A positive test for a first offense carries a punishment of five days’ suspension for alcohol impairment and 15 days for drugs.
A second positive test results in a 15-day suspension for alcohol and a 30-day suspension for drugs. A third positive test requires resignation.
The procedures also say teachers who admit to being under the influence of alcohol or drugs before an impairment test will not be disciplined, but will be subject to random testing for up to one year and must participate in a substance abuse rehab program.
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