The leader of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE), the group formed by Atlantic City table game dealers to fight for repeal of the casino exemption to New Jersey’s indoor smoking ban, blasted New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy for a comment that there are two sides to the issue of banning smoking in Atlantic City casinos.
Murphy, who has said repeatedly that he would sign any casino smoking ban legislation that reaches his desk, commented on News 12’s Ask Gov. Murphy program that the smoking issue is framed by opposing views of the United Auto Workers union, which is suing the state on behalf of its members to end smoking inside casinos, and Local 54 of UNITE HERE, which represents hotel and restaurant employees in the city’s casinos and supports continuing to allow smoking to avoid job losses.
“The union that I believe pushed this suit is UAW, who represents dealers,” Murphy said when asked about the UAW lawsuit. “They want to have it banned. Their argument is folks are smoking and blowing it right in their face, and I get that. On the other side, the other big union, Local 54 of UNITE HERE, I’m pretty certain does not want it banned because they’re concerned it will impact the business prospects in Atlantic City….
“I have said in the past and I will reiterate today, if a bill gets to my desk, subject obviously to the details, but if a bill gets to my desk as it relates to banning smoking, I will sign it. I have said that now for going on seven years. It’s one where there’s a lot of passion on both sides.”
CEASE was quick to answer with a press statement.
“There are not two equal sides in this fight,” CEASE co-founder Pete Naccarelli said in the statement. “Governor Murphy should stop giving credence to casino industry scare tactics powered by alternative facts they manufactured through a report they bought and paid for.
“The only independent research using current data shows casinos would generate even more revenue without indoor smoking; and nearly 75 percent of Philly-area residents would be much more likely to come to AC casinos if they were smoke-free. The governor’s consideration of this legislation should be informed by facts, not misleading sky-will-fall scare tactics that have been disproven over and over again. It’s time for Governor Murphy to show leadership in protecting our lives so we never again have to choose between our health and a paycheck.”
“Governor Murphy should not defend a law that jeopardizes the lives of thousands of New Jersey workers,” said Lamont White, another CEASE co-founder. “He’s shamefully giving credence to the scare tactics of opponents, putting perceived profit over our lives.
Meanwhile, Local 54 filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by UAW and casino workers, raising the ire of some of its members. Beverage server Lisa Mathias and bartender Chris Ireland, who both work for Atlantic City casinos are members of both Local 54 and CEASE, issued a statement blasting their union’s leadership.
“We’re appalled to witness our union fight against our health and safety at our jobs,” the statement said. “Their court filing is disgraceful and a betrayal of workers.
“Our so-called leadership’s arguments prioritize misplaced economic concerns over the fundamental right to a safe workplace. We’ve never been polled on the issue, but most people we talk to about this—nonsmoking employees on the casino gaming floors—overwhelmingly support ending indoor smoking. Why are they doing the bidding of the casino executives by fighting against this common-sense effort to finally end indoor smoking?
“We’re all affected by it in the casinos. One of the fundamental purposes of a union is to advocate for the health and safety of workers. It’s time for Local 54 leadership to start doing just that. We should be standing in solidarity with our fellow workers in the fight for a smokefree workplace, not serving as a useful tool for the casinos.”
