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PUBLIC LAW HOARD No. 4381: CASE No. 13
FOOD OF DANCE OF FRY EMPLOYEES
.Y
HURLTNSIM NORIHERN RAILROAD
$f OF CLAI~L
11The Company did not prove Mr. Russell guilty of
Rule G. This Investigation was not fair and impartial.
This Claim is for pay far all lost time, returned to
work immediately
(sic),
full promotional opportunity
and removal of this Investigation from Mr. Russell's
personal records.
The
threshold
issue...
does the waiver signed by Mr. Geoffrey
Russell bar the Organization front appealing the claim... must be decided
in favor of the Organization. The Organization has the right and the
duty to police the Agreements to which it is a party. The organization
must assure that individual settlements do not adversely affect collective rights. It is not sufficient that Mr. Russell discussed signing the
waiver with the Organization. The organization, as the collective
representative, must retain the right to pursue the matter if it believes
Mr. Russell's waiver of rights is wrong. The duties associated with'fair
representation require the Organization to consider and to reconcile
individual and collective interests.
There is
no evidence in this case
that the organization acted in an arbitrary or capricious or discriminatory man-jex by deciding to go forward with the appeal..
The Carrier has established probable cause for the request that Mr.
Russell submit to the urinalysis. Therefore, the Carrier did not engage
in random testing.
The Carrier's
officers had sufficient reasons to
believe that the report of use pf marijuana by the Claimant during a
lunch period was reliable. Additionally, the close observation of Mr.
Russell by two Carrier officers, over a period of time, provided sufficient indications that Mr. Russell might be under the influence of a
prohibited substance. .
The
test results of Mr. Russell's urinalysis indicated that at the
time he underwent the test, he had in excess of 440 nanagrams of marijuana in his system. The results of the emit test were confirmed by a
N381- 13
.. 1
thin-layer chromatography test. Given the level of nanagrams of marijuana in Mr. Russell's system and the confirmation of the test results,
there is substantial evidence from
which
to
conclude that Mr. Russell
violated Rule G (in effect in 1985). Mr. Russell had substantial marijuana in his system while he was on duty or.subject to duty.
The investigation was not defective, as claimed by the organization,
because the Carrier did not produce the co-worker informant
as
a witness.
The basis for disciplinary action taken against Mr. Russell was the test
results, not the ca-workers information. No important due process
benefit ww1d have accrued
to
Mr. Russell by having an opportunity to
cross-exam;
Te
the Informant. Furthermore, the program to bring forth
information about the use of controlled substances and alcohol by
employees on duty or subject to duty could be severely handicapped by
requiring the informant to appear.
The record of this case oarntains no procedural defects that would
justify settirq aside the discipline. In his testimary, Mr. Maze was not
serving as an expert witness, nor dial he claim to be an expert witness.
Rather, he related information made available to him about the test
results. Accordingly, appropriate weight has been assigned to his
statements. The test results were made part of the zeoomd and were
considered in rising a decision in this matter. Finally, the record is
clear that Mr. Russell voluntarily submitted to the urinalysis: he had
the option to refuse.
Claim denied `
Ronald L. Miller
Chairman
and teal
Member
Maxine M. Timberman Karl P. Mwtsen
Carrier Member organization MeMber
DISSFdiTING ( SEE ATTACHED )
Date
~-(38 I - I 3
EMPLOYEE MEMBER'S DISSENT
While concurring with the majority decision that the organization
had the right to pursue this claim as part of its right and duty to police the
Agreement, the Organization respectfully but firmly dissents from the
majority's conclusion that the Carrier was not respired to produce the alleged
informant as a witness at the hearing and from the conclusion that Mr. Russell
had the option to refuse urinalysis. If the Carrier is riot required to
produce the informant $s a witness, the Carrier then acquires the ability to
allege the receipt of a report by an anonymous informant, whether or not such
report did occur, as a basis for any urinalysis test. The Carrier thereby _de
facto acquires the ability to engage in random testing.
Regarding Mr. Russell's alleged right to refuse the urinalysis
test, the evidence of record shows that under Company policy had Mr. Russell
refused to submit to urinalysis testing, he would have been charged with
insubordination, a charge which customarily carries a penalty of dismissal.
In effect, Mr. Russell was required to submit to urinalysis test under pain of
dismissal for refusal to do so. The Organization avers that submission to
urinalysis testing on pain of dismissal for refusing to do so is clearly not
voluntary. .
Karl Knutsen . -
Employee Member
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