Media release: 1 September 2003
Tuesday 2nd September
2003
4:00pm - 6:00pm
in front of NSW Parliament House, Macquarie St.,
Sydney
Everyone
has a basic right to clean air – and both workers and patrons have a right to
be protected from the serious health harm caused by secondhand cigarette smoke.
Yet
thousands of pub and club workers – bar attendants, cleaners, bottle-washers,
musicians, entertainers and more – are still working shifts in unhealthy,
smoke-filled venues. Research shows they are suffering short-term and long-term
health harm.
There is no safe level of tobacco smoke.
The
SmokeFree ’03 coalition (of nine major health and trade union organisations)
is committed to smokefree workplaces. We believe it is the responsibility of
employees to guarantee this, and of governments to ensure that they do.
This
has been recognised by countries including Ireland, Norway and the Philippines,
and five US states – and New Zealand is expected to follow this month.
In
Australia, the South Australian, Tasmanian and ACT governments are currently
considering total smoke bans in all workplaces. All over Australia, the public
has indicated strong support for total smoke bans in pubs, clubs and gaming
rooms.
In
NSW, a temporary “sharing the air” situation is leaving workers and the
public “sharing the poison” – and venues at increasing risk of expensive
legal actions.
Why
should hospitality workers have to work in unhealthy conditions other workers
are protected from? Are restaurants' profits plummeting since they went
smoke-free? Why are pubs and clubs allowed to bypass Occupational Health and
Safety principles?
Smokefree
workplaces: it’s about
health…. and it’s about time.
Comment:
Margaret Hogge, Non-Smokers’ Movement of Aust.
ph.
(02) 9264-6243; (02) 9905-5775
SmokeFree '03 coalition:
Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union; Musicians' Union of
Australia;
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance; Australian Council of Trade
Unions;
Action on Smoking and Health Australia; The Cancer Council Australia;
National Heart Foundation of Australia; Australian Council on Smoking and Health;
Non-Smokers' Movement of Australia