VICTORY: Metro Parks Overreaches, Worker Gets Second Chance

When the Department of Parks director approved a “zero-tolerance” drug policy that was not approved by the Metro Civil Service Commission, he thought he had the right to fire any employee for any positive drug test result. The policy would not consider the employee’s work history or seniority, or permit an employee for a first-time offense to go into a treatment program, as had been done in the past.

The Union recently challenged the termination of a worker on the grounds that the Parks policy was never approved by the Commission. The Commission agreed, and ordered the Department to re-visit the termination without relying on the zero-tolerance policy and take into account the discipline imposed in similar cases in the past. The Civil Service Commission also ruled that the zero-tolerance policy cannot be enforced until it is has been approved by the Commission.

If Management expects workers to play by the rules, then they have to as well. That's just one of the reasons we have a union... to make sure the system is fair for everyone.