Casino operators are not necessarily the type of business people you expect to be on the right side of history, but even so, their absolute refusal to acknowledge the dangers of second-hand smoke in the workplace and ban smoking on the casino floor in the year 2024 is surprising.
Less surprising is the Legislature’s willingness to buckle under and act in favor of a powerful business interest at the expense of worker health.
The Smoke Free Air Act was passed 23 years ago. The act banned smoking in bars and restaurants — much to the chagrin of bar and restaurant owners — in order to protect the rights of workers to perform their jobs in a poison-free environment.
The hospitality industry predicted catastrophic consequences, such as job loss and sports bars closing left and right, leading to the ultimate collapse of the Jalapeño Popper Industrial Complex.
Yeah, that didn’t happen. Everything’s fine. Restaurants are a tough racket, but it’s not because you can’t light up indoors anymore. The same is going to be true when the casinos finally bite the bullet and adopt a ban of their own.
It’s not surprising the casinos want to maintain the status quo when it’s working for them, but it’s not working for their employees who have to perform their jobs in a carcinogenic fog. The fact that the casinos got a carveout 23 years ago is bad enough. The fact that the Legislature has allowed them to treat their employees as expendable for nearly a quarter century, with no signs of stopping, is worse.
Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.
0
20
20
