The employer in BC Hydro and Power Authority and- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 258 implemented a pre-employment drug and alcohol testing requirement for new applicants applying for safety-sensitive positions under the hiring hall provision of the collective agreement. The union grieved the pre-employment testing and the employer agreed that a labour arbitrator had jurisdiction to hear the grievance. A balancing of interests approach was applied, with Arbitrator John Hall pointing out it was not possible for an employer to show evidence of a general problem with substance abuse when dealing with new applicants.
