Smoking is prohibited in almost every workplace in New Jersey. Every workplace that is, except casinos.
Workers at Atlantic City’s casinos have been pushing for a smoking ban for years now. They had appeared to be making some progress - until a preliminary vote on smoking in casinos was cancelled at short notice.
The snap decision to cancel the vote had casino workers burning with rage, with some choosing to take matters into their own hands. At a recent state assembly meeting, tensions ran high and workers could not be silenced.
State government hearing becomes union protest
Workers decided to turn the tables, heading to a state government hearing in Trenton and lighting up in protest, according to ABC News. Some members of the United Auto Workers union blew smoke in the direction of legislators to make their point about the unfairness of the situation.
Smoking is, of course, forbidden throughout the State House Annex, and hasn’t been allowed in the meeting hall for many years. But dealers at Atlantic City Casinos overlooked those rules for a day, to show legislators exactly what it feels like to have second-hand smoke blown in your face while you’re trying to work.
"We're not allowed to smoke in your workplace, but you're allowed to smoke in ours,” Daniel Vicente, a regional director of the United Auto Workers union, said during the protest.
Union members were swiftly removed from the building. Police did not press charges for the offences committed.
Unions stand firm on smoking ban demands
Workers remain committed to a complete ban on smoking in casinos. They are asking for the state’s Democratic leadership to ban smoking immediately, via the original bill that was put forward. But at this point, it’s uncertain whether there will even be a vote on the bill at all.
“It's incredible that we're here begging again to have the same thing everyone else has,” said Lamont White, according to the Associated Press. White is a dealer at the Borgata casino and a key voice in the movement to ban smoking in Atlantic City casinos.
“We have to endure hours on the job with second-hand smoke in our faces without the ability to turn away,” added Borgata dealer Nicole Vitola.
Could a compromise be reached?
Republican State Senator Vince Polistina has been a prominent figure in the push for a smoking ban, but he admits that agreeing to a total ban remains unlikely.
Instead, it’s possible that a compromise could be sought between casinos and unions. An agreement could protect workers and non-smoking gamblers from second-hand smoke to a degree - while also permitting smoking in certain areas.
The new bill is likely to ban smoking at table games, and limit smoking at slot machines - with restrictions coming in at phased intervals over an 18-month period. Casinos could also opt to offer enclosed smoking rooms under the proposed legislation.
Initial proposals are already being dismissed by union workers, however. International president of the United Auto Workers Union, Shawn Fain has said that the smoking rooms proposal is “preposterous” and that the union remains committed to a complete smoking ban in casinos.
The battle looks likely to rage on for now.
