ZERO-TOLERANCE DRUG POLICY FOR PRISON WORKERS OK'D BY SENATE COMMITTEE

Illinois Senate President James "Pate" Philip and the largest state
employee union have reached agreement on a plan to put a
zero-tolerance drug policy for prison workers into law.

The agreement should pave the way for the General Assembly to approve
a better pension plan for prison guards that was negotiated last
spring by Council 31 of the American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees.

Senate Republicans refused to approve the pension upgrade
until the drug policy was codified. "It's zero-tolerance. One strike
and you're out," Philip, R-Wood Dale, said after the Senate Executive
Committee approved the plan.

"We're not supporting the drug-testing bill by itself," said AFSCME
political director Bill Perkins. "It's contingent on the pension
benefits being placed into law."

"We've been assured by the president of the Senate that our pension
benefits will be enacted into law," he added. However, Philip didn't
sound quite as certain, saying, "There is no agreement on anything
specifically." During contract talks a year ago, AFSCME reached
agreement with state negotiators on improved pension benefits for
prison workers.

The union also agreed to a zero-tolerance drug policy in which a
worker would be fired for a single positive drug test. The previous
policy called for a worker to be suspended the first two times he or
she tested positive
for drugs and only fired on a third offense.

Philip demanded that the drug policy be made law so that it couldn't
be eliminated during future contract talks. AFSCME and its allies in
the legislature refused to go along, in part because they believed
the bill drafted by Senate Republicans went further than the drug
provision in the
contract.

The bill approved by the committee Wednesday contains
protections for the union, Perkins said. "Many of the (earlier
versions) contained language that specifically abrogated our right to
collectively bargain," Perkins said. "That language is not in this
bill."

Some federal drug-testing guidelines are also incorporated in
the bill, which further protects union members, Perkins said.

Asked how the latest bill differs from earlier versions, Philip said: "I
think it's about the same. I don't think there's much difference at
all."