DRUG TESTING

NEW POLICY A MATTER OF SAFETY, NOT PAY RAISES

Regarding Olivia Cockcroft's and Peter Hansen's letters to the editor
(April 29) expressing bewilderment as to how the governor along with
the HSTA and DOE had somehow leveraged random drug testing in
exchange for "manini" pay raises: It's laughable.

When was the last union contract negotiated where pay raises were not
part of the "boiler plate," if you will? The fact is the drug testing
was just another part of the agreement and had nothing to do with the increase.

Testing may not have even been an issue were it not for the fact that
we have recently seen teachers being arrested for getting loaded on
their way to work or dealing pounds of meth in their spare time while
readily admitting to caring for kids while under the influence. Duh,
it's a safety issue.

Whether it's six hours or six minutes, anyone knows that in less than
six seconds, if you're not paying attention, lives can change and/or
end forever. C'mon, let's be alert out there!

Kerry Lewis

Honolulu