California's Health, Labor and Business Leaders Confirm 8-Year Success of Smoke-Free Workplaces.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 20, 2002

While other cities, states and countries debate smoke-free workplace laws and listen to unsubstantiated threats of economic doom, California's health, labor and business leaders confirmed the success of California's Law for a Smoke-free Workplace (Assembly Bill 13). State Health Director Diana Bonta, along with leaders of the California Labor Federation AFL-CIO, Hotel & Lodging Association, small businesses and others celebrated the eight-year success of AB 13 -- California's most controversial employee protection law -- and the five-year anniversary of smoke-free bars.

"The California Labor Federation is proud to have sponsored one of the most sweeping worker health protection measures ever enacted in California or the United States," said Tom Rankin, president, California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. "We know cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, including dozens of known human carcinogens. Workers should not have to choose between their jobs and their health."

"We in California's lodging industry were understandably nervous about the potential detrimental effects a smoking ban would have on our businesses," said Jim Abrams, executive vice president of the California Hotel and Lodging Association. "But none of the doomsday predictions happened. In fact, tourism in California increased each year following passage of AB 13. We can say with certainty to the rest of the country that a workplace smoking ban is good for the lodging industry."

"California's Smoke-Free Workplace Law has benefited millions of workers over the past several years by protecting them from the deadly effects of secondhand smoke," added Rankin. "We hope California serves as an example to other cities, states and countries that a smoking ban is good for workers, employers and the public."

"More and more of our hotel and motel members have gone further than the law mandated," added Abrams. "While the law required only 35 percent of hotel and motel rooms be non-smoking, most members set aside a much higher percentage due to customer demand. The fact is that the vast majority of customers prefer a smoke-free environment."

Echoing statements from eight years ago, John F. Henning, former executive secretary-treasurer, California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, added, "What was true then is still true today: death by cigarette smoke should not be a condition of employment."

"The tobacco industry tried to scare our members into thinking their employers would lose business due to the smoking ban, and that they would lose their jobs," said Michael Casey, President, Hotel & Restaurant Employees, Local 2, AFL-CIO, of San Francisco. "I'm proud to say our union members and many employers saw through these tactics and stood up for the right to a safe and healthy workplace.

"The restaurants, bars and hotels where our members work did not suffer any adverse effects from the smoking ban. If anything, it's been good for business and customers as well as for our members," concluded Casey.

"As the author of AB 13, it's immensely gratifying to see these reports that reflect how successful the legislation has been," said Hon. Terry Friedman, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge and former state Assemblyman. "We fought an uphill battle against the tobacco industry's massive financial and political resources when we passed the smoke-free workplace law. We were successful because we stuck to the facts. Our coalition of labor, business, local government and health groups knew that smoke-free workplaces would benefit everyone. The law's success and the continued enormous, broad-based support prove that."