Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) hosted a virtual press conference on Wednesday in the aftermath of a New Jersey Superior Court ruled against the organization in an attempt to ban smoking inside Atlantic City casinos.
CEASE dropped interesting nuggets that are going to take affect next. The first of which, it made clear, is that the fight is not over. After last Friday’s court ruling, it plans to appeal to the state’s Supreme Court.
Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights President and CEO, Cynthia Hallett, said the judge wrote the following in the ruling:
“While the court is sympathetic to help hazards, it is determined that safety is not a fundamental right. The court also said that casino workers can just find another job if they don’t like indoor smoke.”
In addition to the appeal, CEASE will be calling on legislation to close the loophole and is also planning a digital campaign that, hopefully, hits close to home for lawmakers. Also, the UAW union, which joined CEASE in the lawsuit, leaves the state’s AFL-CIO.
CEASE, labor union push NJ lawmakers
While an appeal is still in play, CEASE members are turning much of their attention to lawmakers in the Garden State, who have the power to pass smoke-free casino legislation.
“Basically, what we are asking lawmakers, will you do the right thing,” table games dealer and CEASE co-founder, Pete Naccarelli, said. “Or do you agree with the ruling where the judge was quoted saying “safety is not a fundamental right” of the workers? Please do the right thing.”
The bill, S1493, is currently sitting in the Senate committee, which has had no movement since January. Since CEASE must pivot efforts, it’s calling on lawmakers, especially Assemblyman William F. Moen Jr. (D), who introduced the bill.
The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) wanted to get a particular message out to Moen, even though the union doesn’t represent any CEASE members.
“I want to call out Assembly member Moen because if this brother truly is a friend of the working people in the state of New Jersey, and really does care about the life, health and safety of working people throughout the state, he’ll move this bill out of Committee the first opportunity,” Dan Vicente, UAW Region 9 Director said.
“We expect to this happen and if you can’t make that happen and are not willing to make that happen, UAW doesn’t consider you a friend to the movement.”
Vicente also announced during the press conference that the UAW has pulled out of the AFL-CIO of New Jersey over this issue.
CEASE to release digital campaign targeting lawmakers
During the press conference, the organization also announced the launch of a digital campaign, called “Kids of CEASE,” across multiple social platforms, that tell stories of families that work in the Atlantic City casino industry.
The subjects of the videos are children, who have to put parameters around relationships with parents and grandparents because of the smoked-filled environments. For example, the granddaughter of CEASE co-founder and Borgata table games dealer, Lamont White, said in a one of the video campaigns:
“My name is Ayana and I live in Atlantic City. My grandpa works at the Borgata. It can affect him a lot, just inhaling all of that while he’s at work for hours. I just pray that nothing happens to him while he’s at work.
“When he comes over after work, if we try to hug him, he won’t let us because he knows he smells like smoke. And he doesn’t want us to inhale that stuff. So we won’t be able to hug him. If they want to smoke, they should just take it outside.”
In another video, Nathan, worries about both of his parents, who works in industry. But, especially, his mom, who is pregnant.
“Since she’s pregnant, it’s not fair for my mom and dad,” he said. “And I know they just want to protect us, but they are risking their lives for our lives.”
The campaign will run in key legislative districts, including Assemblyman Moen’s in Audubon, NJ.
“We want to show people we’re not just numbers, we’re not just ‘those casino workers.’ We’re real people with real families,” Naccarelli said. “And to tell people, like us, ‘go get another job’ and I have two kids to support, a wife and a house, it’s just unfair. The digital campaign will be showing us with our families and our kids.”
CEASE and UAW has a lot of work over the coming months, and won’t stop fighting until casino workers are working in facilities with fresh air, just like every other New Jersey employee.
