THEY'LL DO IT, BUT DISLIKE IT

New Pact Opens Debate Over Drug Testing Teachers

Teachers have voted for a contract that includes random drug testing,
but the debate on how these tests should be done is wide open for another year.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association will bargain with the state on
details of several contractual items, including random drug testing,
from now until the Legislature's 2008 session.

HSTA Executive Director Joan Husted said the union will not be rushed
into producing guidelines, rather it will take full advantage of the
allotted year. Husted said the union will collect comments from all
teachers willing to provide them.

"We are looking to put together a workable, fair and respectful
procedure that will ensure teachers are treated properly while
ensuring the accuracy of the tests," said Husted. The complexity of
the procedures warrants the help of specialists on the subject, she added.

Husted declined to comment on the kind of guidelines HSTA may
propose, saying that it would be presumptuous of her to make any suggestions.

She noted drug testing requirements vary widely by group. For
example, United Public Workers have agreed to test 10 percent of
members for alcohol and 25 percent for controlled substances. The
U.S. Coast Guard samples 25 percent for alcohol and 50 percent for
controlled substances, she said.

Some teachers view these random tests as counterproductive to their
intended purpose.

"What happens to our classes (if we are pulled out for testing)?"
asked Colleen Pasco, HSTA Kohala Chapter president and Kohala High
School teacher. "Where do we go for drug testing? The concerns are
about finances but also about (other resources). Substitute teachers
are already in short supply."

"I feel like this is going to be like a needle in a haystack," Pasco
said. "DOE has always been able to pull teachers aside if it had
reason to be suspicious. (The state) said it wants to help teachers
'who need help' but there are better ways to help than to randomly
test 13,000 people."

Pasco said she believes teachers are being targeted -- in part --
because of media reports about Oahu teachers who were charged with
drug-related crimes.

Besides the sample requirement, HSTA and the state will need to
decide upon testing protocols.

The consequences should a teacher test positive for alcohol or
controlled substances will also be a subject of negotiations between
union and state.

"The community needs to understand teachers want drug-free and safe
schools," said Husted.

Random drug testing was approved as part of a new salary agreement
between the state and HSTA members. The union announced Wednesday its
teachers voted to approve the contract by a 61 percent majority.

"There are lots of very good things in that contract," said Husted.
"But there aren't many teachers happy about drug testing."

In her 22-year career, Pasco said this is the most unhappy she has
been with any contract negotiation.

Kohala High School teacher Alan Brown expressed similar sentiments.
He said the drug testing is a "slap in the face" for teachers, who
are professionals but are not treated accordingly.

"We're fighting for every dollar and they are going to spend money on
drug testing?" he said. But this issue is just one of Brown's
concerns about the contracts.

"It seemed like with the last contract we got a tiny raise but we had
to work more days for it," said Brown. "... Four percent doesn't even
cover inflation."

The contract features a 4 percent pay increase for teachers in each
year of the two-year contract, as well as an additional 3 percent
incremental step increase for most teachers who will move up a step
on the pay schedule, totaling 11.17 percent by the end of the
contract. Under the new contract, the starting teacher's salary will
go from $39,901 annually to $43,157. Substitute teachers are not
affected by the contracts.

Non-salary gains include the addition of two "waiver days," plus four
additional "professional development" days that will now be available
to all, according to HSTA. All previous contractual rights have also
been retained with no "take aways." Other contract features include a
$3,000 a year differential for licensed teaches in Keaau, Waianae and
Nanakuli complexes.

The new agreement also calls for a 25 percent increase supplementary
pay for department heads, grade level chairmen, band directors and
others now receiving it. In addition, choral directors have been
added to the list.

United Public Workers, which also just ratified its contracts with
the state, agreed to implement a random drug and alcohol testing
program for all employees in the bargaining unit. The contracts cover
close to 12,000 custodian, sanitation workers, prison guards, public
hospital workers, food service employees and other workers for the
state and counties, Hawaii Health Systems Corp., DOE, University of
Hawaii and the judiciary.