Mill Drugs Raid Spurs Union Complaint

A police drug raid on a Tokoroa plywood mill in which a worker was
strip-searched has appalled unionist, who say it is unheard of in a
New Zealand workplace.

About 20 police from Tokoroa and Rotorua raided the Carter Holt Harvey
mill about 7.30 pm last Wednesday but found no drugs.

Engineers Union national secretary Andrew Little said police detained
and hassled more than 70 staff.

One man was manhandled off his forklift, another was strip-searched,
while a third was caught in the toilet and dragged out.

The union would investigate the raid's legality and look at taking
specific cases to the Police Complaints Authority on behalf of
members, he said.

A lawyer from the union's Auckland office spent yesterday talking to
members in Tokoroa.

Mill manager James Boyce said the raid took place with management's
knowledge, and was based on information the Tokoroa police had gained
on cannabis use at the mill.

He said Cater Holt was concerned about the potential link between
cannabis use and workplace injuries.

No one from Tokoroa police was available for comment
yesterday.

Mr Little said reports of physical interference of staff by the police
were of great concern to the union.

"The police clearly acted in a heavy-handed way. It's completely
uncalled for. Quite simply, workers should not be hassled by police in
their workplace."

He had never heard of any previous case in New Zealand of a drug raid
like the one at the mill, and the incident was disturbing.

Mill employee Mark Foster said workers felt intimidated, humiliated
and upset by the search.

One was manhandled off a forklift, held with his hands pinned behind
his back, and told he would be arrested if he hindered the search.

Mr Foster said the worker had done nothing to hinder the police, had
not spoken to them and did not even know what was going on.

Another worker was forced to strip to his underwear and was searched
by police in front of management and co-workers, after a sliver of
tinfoil was found on him.

Mr Foster said the worker had argued the tinfoil had been from his
sandwich wrapping.

Female workers were upset and embarrassed at being forced to empty out
their handbags in front of other staff, he said.

Seventeen workers were ordered to stand in a line for 15 minutes while
a drug dog sniffed them.

"We have just finished negotiating a contract under goodwill with
management, and this is the way they reward us for coming to terms
with them," Mr Foster said.

He said if anyone had a drug problem among the 270-strong workforce,
it would be only one or two people.

Mr Boyce said the raid was initiated by Tokoroa police and he had had
no complaints from staff.

He declined to comment on any alleged improper police
actions.

Mr Boyce believed it was fair for staff to be searched for
drugs.

He had heard informally about drug use at the mill, and said studies
had been done on the industry which showed drug use to be rife among
forestry workers.