ANR Honors the Anniversary of Smokefree Skies Laws by Calling for Protections for All Staff
Berkeley, CA — A long time after flight attendants gained a hard-fought battle to clear the air in airplane cabins, their victory stays a defining second for employee well being and security. However whereas airline staff not should breathe secondhand smoke on the job, 1000’s of others — particularly casinos staff — are denied the identical protections.
The legislation prohibiting smoking on home flights, which took impact 35 years in the past at this time, was made doable by a broad coalition of well being teams, legislative champions together with Senator Frank Lautenberg and then-Consultant Richard Durbin, and tenacious flight attendants who had been keen to talk up publicly for his or her proper to breathe.
The Smokefree Skies victory set the stage for broader office protections by displaying that smokefree insurance policies can shield staff with out harming enterprise. Sadly, on line casino staff in lots of states are nonetheless uncovered to poisonous secondhand smoke, having not but obtained the protections flight attendants fought for years in the past.
“The combat for smokefree workplaces didn’t finish with airplanes — it continues at this time in casinos and different workplaces the place secondhand smoke stays a severe well being risk,” stated Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of ANR. “Flight attendants refused to again down, and their success paved the way in which for more healthy workplaces in every single place. Now, we’d like that very same momentum to guard on line casino staff. No employee ought to have to decide on between their paycheck and their well being, and it’s long gone time for on line casino staff to obtain the identical protections that flight attendants gained greater than three a long time in the past.”
Because the combat for smokefree workplaces continues, People for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) is looking on state lawmakers to prioritize the well being and security of all staff by passing smokefree protections. The Smokefree Skies victory serves as a strong instance, and it’s time for states to observe go well with and shield on line casino staff and others nonetheless uncovered to secondhand smoke of their workplaces.
Background
See Senator Durbin’s remarks following the twenty fifth anniversary of smokefree skies laws.
Hear what veteran flight attendants should say about engaged on smoke-filled flights then and their smokefree workplaces now. Watch Patty Younger, one of many early voices within the combat, describe what it was wish to work in a smoke-filled airplane.
As of 2024, practically all U.S. hub airports are 100% smokefree indoors together with Chicago O’Hare, Denver, Salt Lake Metropolis, JFK, Newark, and lots of extra. The newest to implement no-smoking insurance policies had been Washington Dulles in 2023 and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in 2020..
See ANR’s lists of 100% Smokefree U.S. Airports and Smoking Insurance policies within the 35 Busiest U.S. Airports.
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People for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR), sister group to ANR Basis is a member-supported, non-profit advocacy group that has been working for over 45 years, since 1976, to guard everybody’s proper to breathe unhazardous air in workplaces and public locations, from places of work and airplanes to eating places, bars, and casinos. ANR has repeatedly shined a light-weight on the tobacco trade’s interference with sound and life-saving public well being measures and efficiently protected 61% of the inhabitants with native or statewide smokefree office, restaurant, and bar legal guidelines. ANR goals to shut gaps in smokefree protections for staff in all workplaces, together with bars, music venues, casinos, and accommodations. For extra data, please go to and https://smokefreecasinos.org.
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