European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 12, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday september 12, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 7boston anti drinking labor policy brews dispute by the new York times Boston a scooping grease out of sewers crawling around water Mains and drilling through Concrete is the sort of hot Nasty work that some City workers say might Merit a noontime Beer. A out Here in the summer it is really Messy and dirty i mean look at it a a worker said pointing to a deep mud ditch As other workers carefully inserted a water pipe. A it has always been an accepted practice that we could just go in a place grab a Suckie and a Beer and leave a he said speaking on condition that his name not be used. But the City a water and sewer commission has decided that while Spuck ies or submarine sandwiches Are Fine there will be Beers no More. Rules against substance abuse on the Job were turned into strict policy that forbids the commissions 600 employees from drinking alcohol during any part of the workday even during lunch Breaks. The Agency says it is acting in accordance with the 1988 Federal drug free workplace act and is trying to address a problem of substance abuse among workers. And while the Prospect of intoxicated sewer workers May not seem As troublesome As the three Northwest airlines pilots convicted last month of flying drunk the matter is still one of Public safety Agency officials say. Violators of the new policy will be suspended or fired. But Bostons water and sewer workers who admit that lunchtime drinks Are nothing new say the Issue is not a matter of alcohol use. The policy begun in january after commission and Union negotiators failed to reach agreement is a breach of contract they said. A these Guys have a Tough enough Job As it is a said Peter t. Lyons a lawyer for the United water and sewer workers local 1. A besides it Isnit like these Guys Are going to race to barroom and Down 15 Beers. All we Are trying to do is preserve the unions collective bargaining agreement against unilateral  the Independent Union represents 339 of the Agency a 600 employees. The two other sewer workers unions have not taken action. The unions contract already bars the use of illicit drugs on site and alcohol by those driving Agency vehicles. But the 30-minute lunch break is unpaid and therefore outside the dictates of an employer Lyons said. Although the 1988 Federal guidelines do not specifically bar drinking at lunch Robert j. Ciolek director of the Boston water and sewer commission said his policy Aims at combating a history of substance abuse by workers. So far this year 10 of the 65 workers who were either fired or suspended for poor performance or absenteeism also admitted drug or alcohol problems he said. Supervisors Are being trained to detect drug or alcohol use among workers. Employees who claim substance abuse problems can seek free help through a local counselling program Ciolek said. He declined to say whether any onsite accidents had been attributed to alcohol abuse. As employers crack Down on substance use and abuse on the Job disputes Over new workplace policies have not been uncommon said Richard m. Reilly regional vice president for the american arbitration association which is handling the Boston water and sewer commission Case. Most employers have never condoned on the Job drinking but several disputes have Arisen As a result of new Laws which include the 4-Ycar-old Federal criminal Law barring pilots from Drunken flying and other workplace guidelines he said. A the problem comes if there has been a past practice of looking the other Way a Reilly said.5 Plush Homes damaged by California Brush fire san Diego up a a fast moving Brush fire apparently sparked by gunfire damaged five multimillion Dollar Homes monday and consumed More than 2,640 acres in a horse ranching area of Northern san Diego county. The Homes each Worth Between $1 million and $5 million were first thought to be destroyed less than three hours after the fire was reported about noon in the Del Dios Lake Hodges area. But when the smoke cleared fire officials found the flames Only damaged the structures. California department of forestry spokeswoman Carol Stein said the most serious damage was a portion of a roof that caved in Over a family room in one of the Homes. About 175 residents and scores of horses were evacuated and the Del Dios Highway was closed. Three vehicles and two bulldozers were destroyed by the flames. Most residents were allowed to return to their Homes late in the afternoon. Stein predicted that firefighters would bring the Blaze under control by late afternoon. Officials said the fire was caused by gunfire but had no details. About 600 firefighters battled the Blaze but were hampered by Steep Canyon terrain and temperatures soaring past 100 degrees. The Blaze spread quickly moving from 50 acres at 2 . To 1,500 acres by 3 40 . Thick smoke Rose in a giant column visible 20 Miles away. As late afternoon winds blew in from the coast the smoke spread Easterly along canyons and valleys prompting the air pollution control Board to Issue an air Quality Alert warning children and elderly people to stay indoors. Animal Rescue Crews transported 25 arabian horses from a Breeding farm located in the heart of the fire. More than 100 animals a mostly horses and donkeys a were rounded up for transport to a humane society shelter in Poway but the fire blocked their path. The animals were moved to a boarding stable in Del mar instead. Flames and smoke engulf wooded terrain bordering a luxury Home near Rancho Santa be Calif. A Evanston iii., seeks 1 St . College tuition tax Evanston 111. Apr the City Council voted monday night to assess students at Northwestern University and four other schools up to $60 a year becoming the nations first Community to approve a tax on College tuition. Mayor Joan Barr immediately said she will veto the measure which was approved 10-8 in an Effort to make up for the property taxes from which Northwestern is exempt. The Council could override a veto by a two thirds vote. A i do not believe Evanston should be the very first Community in the United states to tax education a the mayor said. A Evanston has always taken Pride in its educational  Northwestern University president Arnold Weber argued during the meeting that the schools students  handle the extra $60 Burden because More than half already receive extensive financial Aid. Most of Northwestern a nearly 10,500 students Are undergraduates who pay annual tuition of $13,725. Weber called the tax a anti education and a anti business and said it would destroy the relationship Between the City and its educational institutions. The 18-member City Council in this Chicago suburb of 75,000 has tried previously and failed to implement a College tuition tax. Northwestern owns 242 of the 5,400 acres in the Community but has said it is typical for such institutions to be exempt from property taxes. Backers of the tax have argued Northwestern is trying to get something for nothing but administrators at the schools have said the tax would Hurt students. Earlier monday the head of the Evanston chamber of Commerce said the tax would do Little to ease the Burden on local residents. A other new taxes Over the time have not brought about tax Relief. They just seem to make resources available for spending increases a said Gerald Murphy executive director. The tax of $15 per semester a or Quarter depending on the schools setup a would generate an estimated $500,000 a year. The tax would also apply to students at Kendall College Garrett evangelical theological Seminary and Seabury Westem theological Seminary. Northwestern officials promised a court fight. They have pointed out that the school brings about 500,000 visitors a year to the City pumps in millions of dollars to the local Economy and adds Many cultural advantages. No other . City has a tuition tax said Sheldon e. Steinbach vice president and general counsel of the american Council on education in Washington. The Council represents 1,500 colleges and universities nationwide. He views a tuition tax As a very poor Public policy a saying College tuition is already High and a to impose an additional Burden on parents is somewhat  Todd Bessinger a 21-year-old psychology major from Buffalo wyo., said he understands the feeling of tax supporters. A whenever Northwestern buys anything it goes off the tax Rolls and increases everybody else a tax Burden in the City a he said. But he said he is not worried about the enactment of a tax a just because i think its  a i think its More Evanston a Way of showing displeasure with the University a he said