ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Shawn Fain, the worldwide president of the United Auto Workers union who not too long ago received giant raises for his employees, is taking purpose at a brand new goal: New Jersey lawmakers who’re delaying votes on a invoice to ban smoking in Atlantic City’s casinos.
The head of the highly effective union, which represents employees at three casinos right here, is urging legislators to maneuver the invoice ahead in a scheduled listening to Thursday, warning that the union will “monitor and track” their votes.
Many on line casino employees have been pushing for 3 years to shut a loophole within the state’s public smoking legislation that particularly exempts casinos from a ban. Despite overwhelming bipartisan help from lawmakers, and a promise from the state’s Democratic governor to signal the measure, it has been bottled up in state authorities committees with out a vote to maneuver it ahead.
The similar state Senate committee that didn’t vote on the invoice final month is because of attempt once more on Thursday. Fain‘s letter to the state Senate and Assembly was timed to the upcoming listening to.
The on line casino business opposes a ban, saying it would value jobs and income. It has instructed creating enclosed smoking rooms, however has refused to expose particulars of that plan.
“Thousands of UAW members work as table game dealers at the Caesars, Bally’s, and Tropicana casinos in Atlantic City, and are exposed on a daily basis to the toxic harms of secondhand smoking,” Fain wrote in a letter despatched final week to lawmakers. “Patrons blow cigarette/tobacco smoke directly into their faces for eight hours, and due to the nature of their work, table dealers are unable to take their eyes away from the table, so they bear through the thick smoke that surrounds their workplace.”
Fain rejected smoking rooms as an answer, calling the suggestion “preposterous,” and mentioned it would oppose any modification permitting something lower than a complete ban on smoking within the casinos.
Currently, smoking is allowed on 25% of the on line casino ground. But these areas aren’t contiguous, and are scattered broadly all through the premises.
At a Nov. 30 listening to within the state Senate, a number of lawmakers mentioned they’re prepared to think about smoking rooms as a compromise.
The Casino Association of New Jersey didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark Tuesday. Nor did state Sen. Joseph Vitale, chairman of the committee that may conduct this week’s listening to.
Chris Moyer, a spokesperson for the Atlantic City on line casino employees who need a smoking ban, mentioned comparable actions are underneath manner in Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Kansas, Michigan and Nevada, and famous Connecticut’s casinos are already smoke-free. Shreveport, Louisiana ended a smoking ban in its casinos in June.
“Workers should leave work in the same condition they arrived,” Fain wrote. “Union. Non-union. Factory, office, casino, or any workplace in between, worker safety must be the #1 goal of every employer and worker throughout the state.”
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