Smokiness

In Tuesday’s CC Times, in the 'Letters from our Readers' section, Bronson Frick of Berkeley wrote a thoughtful letter about Casino San Pablo and second-hand smoke. Here is the text of the letter:

“Recently labor leaders gathered at Casino San Pablo to announce their support for expanding that facility. We hope labor unions will seek to protect their members’ health, safety and well being by insisting on a smoke-free workplace policy as a part of any expansion discussion.

There are already dozens of Casino San Pablo employees putting their health at risk each day just by going in to work. An expanded casino would employ more than 2,000 workers, workers who will have to make a choice between their health and their job.

Casino workers are at greater risk for lung cancer and heart disease caused by secondhand smoke. Workers should not have to sacrifice their lives for their livelihood Ventilation systems, no matter how advanced they claim to be, do not protect people from health hazards caused by tobacco smoke.

There should be a new sign on the door: Welcome to Casino San Pablo. You have now forfeited your right to work in a smoke free workplace.

A 100% smoke-free workplace policy should be a term of agreement within the compact. Anything less would be a step backward from a smoke –free California and would cause irreparable harm to Bay Area workers, residents and visitors.”