Casino workers in Atlantic City are angry and worried about their health safety, and they’re lighting up to make sure legislators know it.
While attending a New Jersey Senate Health Committee meeting Thursday afternoon, a number of them lit up cigarettes in protest after legislators dropped from their agenda a bill to ban smoking completely in casinos.
The group included Atlantic City casino workers associated with C.E.A.S.E. (Casino Employees Against Smoking’s Effects) and members of the UAW, who represent the casino workers.
Their protest did not go down easy, State troopers escorted the people who lit up cigarettes out of the State House.
For two years, casino workers, including Lamont White, have been lobbying state legislators to completely outlaw smoking on casino floors in New Jersey.
“Two days ago, I was on a table with two guys smoking cigars. It’s horrible,” White said. “Your eyes start burning. My throat gets raw, and I don’t want to breathe.”
While smoking indoors is outlawed in practically all public places in New Jersey, right now, smoking is still allowed on 25% of the gambling floor, but it doesn’t all have to be in one area. Practically speaking, this means that smokers can be polluting the air anywhere in the casino and there is no escaping them.
But legislation stalled in the Senate Health Committee, which infuriated Daniel Vincente of the UAW.
“We’ve been betrayed by our legislators, both Democrat and Republican,” Vincente said. “They have completely caved.”
The Casino Association of New Jersey, which represents Atlantic City’s casinos, had a ready answer that put the casino workers’ concerns about their health into a financial context:
“It is clear that more and more people realize that the bill, as drafted, will have a significant adverse effect on Atlantic City’s economy. A broad coalition of stakeholders – workers, seniors, people with disabilities, civil rights organizations, labor, business, community leaders, and a number of legislators – oppose this legislation, recognizing that it will hurt working-class people, endanger thousands of jobs and jeopardize the millions of dollars in tax revenue dedicated to New Jersey’s seniors and people with disabilities. We look forward to continuing this dialogue as we move forward, to find a compromise that will address the concerns of our employees without jeopardizing jobs and benefits to some of our most vulnerable citizens. The casino industry will continue to work with stakeholders on a compromise that supports the betterment of the city, the tourism and gaming industries and the collective interest of the entire Atlantic City workforce.”
Sen. Vince Polistina (R-2) announced he’s working on legislation that will serve as a compromise between casinos and casino workers.
The bill’s provisions will include eliminating smoking at table games and gradually reducing smoking at slot machines, with minimum distances where slots can be located from table games, over 18 months.
Whether any of these proposed compromises will satisfy casino workers remains to be seen.
