Lt. Gov. James R. "Duke" Aiona Jr. and the state director of United Public Workers signed an agreement clearing the way for random drug and alcohol testing for 2,319 blue collar, non-supervisory state employees.

The agreement was signed yesterday by Aiona and the UPW's Dayton Nakanelua. The agreement, which takes effect in about 30 days, is the first to include random drug testing for state employees not subject to federally required commercial driver's license drug testing laws, according to a news release from Aiona's office.

The supplemental agreement affects employees of Bargaining Unit O1 who overwhelmingly supported the drug-testing provision in their contract that runs through June 30, 2009.