HSTA can't have it both ways on drug tests

Random drug-testing is patently unconstitutional and I've been a
vehement opponent of the state's ill-conceived efforts to abridge
teachers' Fourth Amendment rights from the beginning. However, the
Hawaii State Teachers Association can't have it both ways. Once our
feckless union leadership failed to quash the state's drug-testing
proposal during negotiations and the membership subsequently ratified
the contract, our fate was sealed.

Recent HSTA statements opposing random drug-testing are completely
disingenuous and self-serving and serve only to undermine public
support for the union. How are we going to negotiate fair contracts
with the state in the future? Who will trust us if we pursue this
course and renege on this or that portion of a ratified contract? We'd
be up in arms if the state pulled something like that on us. Sorry
teachers, but we made this bed and now we have to sleep in it. Our
only recourse is (and has been since ratification) to challenge the
constitutionality of random drug-testing in court.

MICHAEL CLARK

Honolulu