HRM workers set to vote on contentious contract
Posted Jan 7, 2010 05:35:42 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HRM’S unionized inside workers will vote on a final contract offer today, which would allow the city to conduct polygraph tests on some workers.
The union is recommending rejection of the contract, saying the contract wording could allow for further expansion of the contentious testing.
One professor at Saint Mary’s University says the employees are right to be suspicious of the lie detector tests – and suggests the municipality shouldn’t let the issue lead to a strike.
Kevin Kalloway, the Canadian research chair in occupational health psychology, says while polygraphs have been effective in criminal cases, it’s widely accepted that they won’t screen out “bad apples” in a job screening scenario.
“When you get beyond the people who actually use polygraphs, who of course all claim that they’re very accurate, the scientific data simply don’t support that conclusion for security clearance,” he said. “They simply don’t detect whether people are being dishonest or not.”
Kalloway says lie detector tests could lull an employer into a false sense of security about their workforce, and says HRM should not overlook other screening menthods.
“Because they’re using the polygraph, I’m worried that they’re not doing other things,” he said. “I would put more emphasis on background checks, on really carefuly, well-done reference checking. If they’re well done, they can give you a lot of information.”
About 700 members of the Nova Scotia Union of Public and Private Employees Local 13 will vote on the contract offer this evening.
