As of today, January 10, 2023, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona, TMB, will carry out drug and alcohol and psychotropic drug tests on bus drivers in the city.
Although the unions have rejected the measure, the modification of the Traffic Law scheduled for 2024 contemplates the application of this type of analysis to those who perform this role in public transport.
While during the first phase the controls will be voluntary, after February 6 they will be randomized.
For its part, the CGT union accused the company of putting drivers right “in the crosshairs”.
Drug and alcohol testing of TMB drivers
The director of the Barcelona bus network, Jacobo Kalitovics, explained that the controls starting today are part of the compliance with a specific protocol.
This protocol seeks to achieve zero alcohol and zero drug use among TMB employees based on the approach taken months ago by the company’s ethics committee.
Kalitovics indicated that “the tests are part of the measures of the same protocol. There are others linked to training and collaboration with the Guàrdia Urbana”.
In the first phase the controls will be voluntary and not only for bus drivers so as not to stigmatize them. They will also be made for those who work with machinery.
How will the controls be carried out?
They will be carried out by a specialized company, according to the quality and privacy standards required by law.
In this way, TMB is ahead of the modification of the Traffic Law that will be in force until January 2024.
The change in the regulations makes it possible to include a section related to transport companies and the possibility of carrying out alcohol and drug tests on their employees.
Jacobo Kalitovics indicated that it was best to anticipate the application of this measure in order to avoid any serious event.
He also stated that he accepts the complaints expressed by part of the staff. However, he emphasized that the company seeks to carry out an exercise of responsibility with the user public: the citizens.
It is not to impose, it is to prevent.
Likewise, Álvaro Martín, spokesman for the CGT union in TMB Autobuses, assured that the application of this measure constitutes a “frontal attack” on drivers. He expressed his support for the implementation of controls once the law is in force.
He also indicated that the union submitted a document to the Health and Safety Committee requesting certain information about the company that will carry out the tests.
In it, they request the deadlines in which the tests will be applied and other aspects.
The spokesperson indicated that so far they have not received a response.
