New South Wales Fire Brigade Employees’ Union (FBEU)

1 – 7 Belmore Street Surry Hills NSW 2010

Telephone 02 9218 3444 Facsimile 02 9218 3488 E-mail office@fbeu.net Website www.fbeu.net

MEDIA ADVISORY

Wednesday, 29 March 2012

TIME FOR MANAGEMENT TO STOP TAKING THE PISS

Fair Work Australia's decision to endorse oral swab over urine drug tests for employees at Endeavour Energy should serve as a wake up call for Fire Brigade management, FBEU State Secretary, Jim Casey said today.

In a significant victory for employees at Endeavour Energy, Fair Work Australia has recognised the futility of urine tests.

Mr Casey called on Fire and Rescue NSW management to abandon its stubborn insistence on urine tests.

"For the last twelve months we have been arguing until we are blue in the face that urine tests do nothing to improve workplace safety and only serve to intrude on the private lives of firefighters," Mr Casey said.

"Urine tests are woefully inadequate at picking up the point of impairment.

"They serve no benefit in terms of workplace safety but allow management to snoop on the private lives of firefighters.

"What someone does on the weekend is no business of management unless it impairs their performance at work.

"Our Union is prepared to discuss options when it comes to drug and alcohol testing but our guiding principles are very clear - the focus must be on rehabilitation and the tests must not intrude on personal liberties.

"Until we have those assurances from Fire Brigade Management, the FBEU will continue to resist mandatory urine tests at stations across the State."

Further comment: Jim Casey 0419 267 555

Posted by:

Darin Sullivan
President
FBEU