Teck Coal will continue to preform random drug and alcohol testing to its 5 coal mines even though the Supreme Court Of Canada has deemed the practice “unreasonable”.

Only implemented last year, Teck spokesman Nic Milligan says the company plans to continue testing its 4000 miners, contractors and managers despite the ruling made earlier in June by the Supreme Court for Irving LTD’s mandatory, random alcohol testing program.

Nic Milligan stated that “We are quite comfortable with the approach we’ve taken, we think it strikes an important balance between safety of our workforce and the privacy rights of our employers.” He continued to state that he believes the two circumstances are different.

United Steelworkers president, Alex Hanson, was shocked at the comment made by Teck Coal and called it unbelievable. “They are saying our circumstances are different. ‘We’re different so we’re just going to push ahead here.’ These are real violations to privacy,” Hanson stated. “Whatever we can do legally, we’re going to be going after the company. They should not be doing this. The highest court in the land has tossed out testing without reasonable cause.”

Teck Resources stated later that it plans to continue random drug testing at their 5 locations until the courts ruled otherwise.

CBC News. “Random Drug Testing Continues at Teck Mines despite Ruling – British Columbia – CBC News.” CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 26 June 2013. Web. 10 July 2013. Article Link.