Some 12,000 blue-collar, correctional and healthcare workers have overwhelmingly ratified a new contract, in which they agree to random drug and alcohol testing along with a 4 percent wage increase this year and next, officials announced yesterday.

"The media and others have made alcohol and substance abuse testing a major part of our negotiations," said Dayton Nakanelua, United Public Workers state director. "We also look at ourselves as part of the solution, a solution in our homes and our communities."

The agreement comes as public school teachers are still awaiting the results of their ratification vote for a contract that also calls for random drug testing. For many teachers, drug testing was a major sticking point — so much so the contract vote was too close to call after 6,000 teachers cast ballots last week. Teachers are now waiting for a tally of absentee ballots, which are due Wednesday.

In a news conference yesterday to announce the UPW contract, Gov. Linda Lingle said union members did a "brave and courageous" thing by agreeing to random drug and alcohol testing.

"The policy is about making sure the public is safe. It's about helping those few who do have alcohol or drug problems," Lingle said. "You are leaders now in the state. You are true union leaders in the best sense."

The two-year contract calls for a 4 percent increase in July, and a second 4 percent increase in July 2008. Workers will also get smaller increases — of about 1 percent — that are equivalent to step increases.

The total cost of the wage package is about $45 million.

The contract covers custodians, sanitation workers, prison guards, public hospital workers, food service employees and others who work for the state, city or Neighbor Island counties.

Marie Laderta, chief negotiator and director for the state Department of Human Resources Development, said the ratification vote count was completed Friday night.

About 94 percent of workers in bargaining unit one, which covers 9,000 blue-collar workers, approved the contract.

Bargaining unit 10, which includes 2,800 healthcare and correctional workers, ratified the contract with 96 percent of members voting in support. The smaller bargaining unit had already agreed to random alcohol and drug tests during their last contract period in 2005.

Both units have also already agreed to "reasonable suspicion" drug testing in the past years.

Nakanelua said "reasonable suspicion" testing will continue, even after the random drug testing is put in place.

The costs of the random testing are not yet clear, but Nakanelua said cost estimates from testing labs range from $35 to $45 per testing analysis.

Officials also did not know yesterday when workers would start being asked to submit to tests. Union leaders said the drug testing would be administered by individual employers.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.