WAILUKU » Some 400 blue-collar workers in Maui County will be subject to drug and alcohol testing at random as well as for cause under a labor agreement signed with the United Public Workers union.

The testing for the union's bargaining unit 1 in Maui County is scheduled to begin some time in early April after employees and their supervisors have gone through training sessions, the county said.

The announcement of the agreement was made yesterday during a news media conference with Mayor Charmaine Tavares in the County Building in Wailuku.

UPW State Director Dayton Nakanelua said agreement between the bargaining unit and Maui County was the last to be signed and that blue-collar workers with the union on the Big Island, Kauai, and Oahu already have agreements with their

respective counties.

The UPW signed an agreement in April to implement a random drug and alcohol testing program for more than 2,300 state employees.

Nakanelua said the agreement with Maui County not only helps to keep a safe environment in the workplace, but also in the community.

“;It's important to us and to the public,”; he said. “;This is a unique step forward.”;

He said some union workers drive government pickup trucks during the work day and operate a variety of equipment, including lawn mowers.

Nakanelua said only supervisors who have undergone training will be able to make a decision about testing workers suspected of having drug and alcohol in their bodies.

Based on the agreement, about 100 employees or 25 percent of bargaining unit members in Maui County may be tested under the program.

Testing may take place at any time during an employee's work day, under the agreement.

Nakanelua described the drug and alcohol testing program as “;humane”; because it allows those who test positive to

undergo drug and alcohol rehabilitation and have a chance to return to work.

Mayor Tavares warned workers to use their judgment before coming to work.

“;The message is if you partied all night, then take a vacation day off,”; Tavares said.

Random drug and alcohol testing in the state has become a major issue recently among government workers, highlighted by the Hawaii State Teachers Association's approval of a controversial contract to include the testing. But testing for teachers is still pending, with the state and teachers union arguing over who should pay for the testing and the agreement itself.

The teachers union has completed guidelines for reasonable-suspicion drug tests but has sought to limit random tests to certain teachers, such as those who have been convicted of drunken driving or have a

history of being late or absent from class.

The union claims drugs are not a widespread problem at isle schools, and that randomly testing teachers would disrupt learning and be too costly for taxpayers.

The state filed a complaint against HSTA with the Hawaii Labor Relations Board, which declined to rule on the matter, saying it does not have jurisdiction, according to Roger Takabayashi, president of the teachers union. The case is now pending in Circuit Court, he said.