Court rules in favour of TTC random drug testing plan

The Ontario Superior Court has approved random drug testing of drivers and motormen at the TTC. The decision was handed down by associate chief justice Frank Marrocco Monday. The proposal to do such testing was vigorously opposed by the Amalgamated Transit Union, which said it would cause irreparable psychological harm to employees. The TTC said it will begin the random tests within days. Judge Marrocco said he was persuaded the TTC has “demonstrated (a) workplace drug and alcohol problem at the TTC which is currently hard to detect and verify.” The transit union had called random testing to be “among the most intrusive forms of personal surveillance” and said it encroached on employee privacy.