After months of legal battles, a group of workers in Atlantic City’s casinos is taking their fight to ban smoking in the workplace to a higher court. The workers, represented by a coalition of labor unions, are demanding that the Atlantic City casinos implement a total ban on smoking within their premises in order to protect the health and safety of all employees.
The workers argue that secondhand smoke poses a significant health risk to them and other workers in the casinos. They have cited numerous studies that show the harmful effects of secondhand smoke exposure, including an increased risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses. The workers also claim that their employers have failed to provide a safe working environment by allowing smoking in designated areas of the casinos.
The issue of smoking in Atlantic City casinos has long been a contentious one. While some casinos have voluntarily implemented smoke-free policies, others have resisted such measures, citing concerns about the potential impact on their bottom line. The workers, however, argue that their health should not be compromised for the sake of profits.
The workers first filed a lawsuit against the casinos in a lower court, seeking to compel them to ban smoking in all indoor areas. The lower court ruled in favor of the workers, but the decision was later overturned on appeal. Undeterred, the workers have now taken their case to a higher court, the New Jersey Supreme Court, in the hopes of finally securing a smoke-free workplace.
“We are fighting for the health and well-being of all workers in Atlantic City casinos,” said Sarah Johnson, a spokesperson for the coalition of labor unions representing the workers. “It is unacceptable that employees are being exposed to harmful secondhand smoke on a daily basis. We will not stop until smoking is banned in all indoor areas of the casinos.”
The Atlantic City casinos have yet to respond to the workers’ latest legal challenge. However, the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the entire gaming industry in Atlantic City and beyond. If the workers are successful in their quest to ban smoking in the casinos, it could set a precedent for other workplaces to follow suit, ultimately leading to a healthier and safer environment for all employees.
As the battle continues in the courts, workers in Atlantic City’s casinos remain steadfast in their determination to ban smoking in their workplaces. They are hopeful that the New Jersey Supreme Court will finally rule in their favor and put an end to the dangerous practice of smoking in the casinos once and for all.
