Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) members pleaded with Pennsylvania lawmakers on Friday, urging them to eliminate smoking inside state casinos. Their plea coincided with a New Jersey judge ruling in favor of smoking to continue inside Atlantic City casinos.
Pennsylvania is going through legislative protocols, thanks to Allegheny County Democratic Rep. Dan Frankel introducing a bill last September, to try and ban smoking.
The New Jersey decision to allow smoking does not have an immediate impact Pennsylvania’s fight in any way. However, it’s possible that a decision of that magnitude in a neighboring state could trickle over in the Keystone State in some way. Frankel is keen on not allowing that to happen.
“I hoped alongside of the casino workers that the court would provide an avenue to act protect the health of New Jersey employees, but I never stopped fighting for a legislative solution in Pennsylvania,” Rep. Frankel told PlayPennsylvania on Tuesday.
“I expect that this ruling will increase the pressure on those legislators who have yet to get on board with my bill to get toxic smoke out of workplaces, because it’s more clear than ever that we cannot wait for the legal system to save the day – workers need our help now.”
CEASE PA stands with NJ, gives another stern message to PA lawmakers
CEASE has been fighting in multiple states to ban smoking inside casinos, especially in Pennsylvania, where it has been a controversial topic for years. Jen Rubolino, a table games dealer at Rivers Casino and co-leader of CEASE PA, plans to use the New Jersey decision as motivation in the Keystone State.
“The decision in New Jersey is a stark reminder of the challenges casino workers face across the country, including here in Pennsylvania, where the fight for smoke-free workplaces continues. Our friends in Atlantic City have been denied basic protections for far too long, and this ruling only strengthens our resolve to push for legislation that prioritizes worker health over casino profits,” Rubolino told PlayPennsylvania on Tuesday.
“This isn’t just a New Jersey issue—casino workers everywhere deserve the right to breathe clean air on the job. We stand in solidarity with CEASE NJ and will continue to advocate for smokefree casinos until no worker is left behind.”
Before the start of the holiday weekend, other CEASE members made sure to express themselves to lawmakers.
“Working people should not have to choose between their paycheck and their health, which is why there are protections against secondhand smoke in almost every workplace, in almost every state,” Lamont White, CEASE co-founder and longtime Atlantic City casino table games dealer, said in a statement.
“But in states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, casino workers are exposed to hazardous conditions every day.”
The bill Frankel introduced, HB 1657, had quickly passed through the House committee in November. However, the bill has remained stagnant since.
A hearing to pass amendments to the bill had been scheduled for April, but was pulled from the agenda. There is no timetable to put the legislation back up for amendments.
Most recently, CEASE members protested during the National Council of Legislators For Gaming States meetings in July at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh. Casino workers brought the “fight right to the doorstep of the decision makers,” as Frankel explained.
‘Fight far from over’ in NJ despite disappointing ruling
New Jersey went down the route of a lawsuit in order to ban smoking inside casinos. However, a New Jersey Superior Court judge ruled against Atlantic City casino workers on Friday.
“This fight is far from over,” White said. “While today’s outcome is disappointing, our determination remains unshaken. For 18 long years, we’ve suffered from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, falling victim to the loophole that state legislators created that jeopardizes our lives.
CEASE NJ is clearly not backing down. The next step is to ask the state Supreme Court to hear the case on an “expedited basis.”
“We refuse to remain collateral damage for the sake of casinos’ out-of-touch predictions about their bottom line and their baseless, disproven revenue claims,” White continued.
“We won’t stop until every worker, every friend, every family member can breathe fresh air. We’re tired of being casualties in a compromise that never really served us and we will continue to do everything in our power to close the casino loophole.”
New Jersey’s decision does not have a direct impact on Pennsylvania’s process to eliminate smoking in casinos. However, a neighboring taking this kind of stand might be able to influence lawmakers in the Keystone State.
Only time will tell, as Pennsylvania is still hoping to get bill back on the agenda sooner rather than later.
