Powerful Union Pushes for Worker Safety
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Shawn Fain, the international president of the United Auto Workers union, has set his sights on a new target: New Jersey lawmakers. Fain, who recently secured substantial raises for his workers, is urging legislators to move forward with a bill to ban smoking in Atlantic City’s casinos. The measure, which has received overwhelming bipartisan support and a promise of approval from the state’s Democratic governor, has been stuck in government committees without a vote.
UAW Threatens to Monitor Lawmakers’ Votes
Shawn Fain, head of the powerful union representing workers at three Atlantic City casinos, has issued a warning to lawmakers. In a letter sent last week, Fain emphasized that the union will closely monitor and track their votes on the bill during the scheduled hearing on Thursday. The UAW has been advocating for the closure of a loophole in the state’s public smoking law, which currently exempts casinos from a smoking ban.
Workers Exposed to Secondhand Smoke
Fain highlighted the health risks faced by casino workers due to secondhand smoke. In his letter, he emphasized that thousands of UAW members, including table game dealers at Caesars, Bally’s, and Tropicana casinos, are exposed to toxic fumes on a daily basis. Fain argued that the nature of their work prevents them from avoiding the smoke blown directly into their faces by patrons. The UAW president rejected the casino industry’s suggestion of enclosed smoking rooms, calling it “preposterous.”
Casino Industry Fears Job Losses and Revenue Decline
While the UAW pushes for a total ban on smoking in Atlantic City’s casinos, the industry itself opposes such measures. Casino representatives argue that a smoking ban would result in job losses and a decline in revenue. They have proposed the creation of enclosed smoking rooms as a compromise, but have not provided details on how this would work in practice.
Support for Ban Grows Beyond New Jersey
The movement to ban smoking in casinos extends beyond New Jersey. Similar efforts are underway in Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Kansas, Michigan, and Nevada. Connecticut’s casinos have already implemented a smoke-free policy. The UAW, alongside other casino workers in Atlantic City, believes that ensuring worker safety should be the top priority for every employer and employee across the state.
The upcoming hearing on Thursday will determine whether the bill to ban smoking in Atlantic City’s casinos will move forward. The UAW and casino workers are hopeful that lawmakers will prioritize their health and well-being.
