Ausgrid workers fear drug, alcohol tests are a risk to health

Union members at electricity firm Ausgrid are refusing to undergo drug and alcohol testing, warning they risked being exposed to COVID-19.

Ausgrid NSW Scretary Augrid Justin Page says resuming drug and alcohol testing without proper COVID-19 safeguards or hygiene measures in place poses a ‘serious and grave risk to the health and safety of workers’. Source: Facebook

Union members at NSW electricity firm Ausgrid are refusing to undergo drug and alcohol testing, warning they risked being exposed to COVID-19.

The Electrical Trades Union said Ausgrid, majority controlled by two industry super funds, ­engaged contractors who had performed drug and alcohol testing in the back of a van with no cleaning or disinfecting.

The ETU said contractors travelled between Newcastle and Sydney to perform tests in a move that had “potentially put regional areas at risk of virus outbreaks started in Sydney hotspots”.

NSW secretary Justin Page said Ausgrid’s decision to unilaterally resume drug and alcohol testing without proper COVID-19 safeguards or hygiene measures in place, posed a “serious and grave risk to the health and safety of workers”.

“The union has lodged a formal dispute with the company and informed members that they are to refuse to undergo any drug and alcohol tests,” he said.

“Drug and alcohol testing was suspended early in the pandemic for obvious reasons, because it’s impossible to maintain social distancing measures when you’re taking a swab of someone’s mouth.

“At a time when active community transmissions are still ­occurring, it is outrageous that Ausgrid would restart testing without consultation or adequate safety measures.”

Ausgrid said it had engaged an accredited organisation to provide random drug and ­alcohol testing. “The organisation has confirmed that all identified COVID-19 protocols and procedures are in place and followed by their approved testers,” a spokeswoman said.

She said social distancing was followed at all times and there was comprehensive cleaning between tests. “Designated testers are divided into two regions and do not move between them,” she said.

The test boycott comes ahead of Ausgrid-ETU negotiations over a new enterprise agreement.

A survey of 1000 ETU members at Ausgrid, Endeavour ­Energy, Essential Energy, Transgrid and Evoenergy found 75 per cent were prepared to take industrial action, with job security their first priority.

The Fair Work Commission has signalled it will extend the ­operation of special working conditions in the car industry due to the impact of the pandemic. The award changes came into effect in May after employers warned an “unprecedented slide” in car sales had plunged the ­industry into crisis. They allow for a temporary reduction in working hours for full-time and part-time staff — down to 60 per cent for full-time workers and 75 per cent for part-timers.