Passive Smoking
European trade unions' passive smoking project
The TUC is co-ordinating a European-wide project which aims to protect workers from passive smoking. The project is focused particularly on workers most at risk from second hand smoke - those working in pubs, clubs and restaurants. The aim is to develop practical tools for union representatives - such as a website and training materials - to help them to negotiate smoking policies at work.
Union representatives from the UK, Sweden, Portugal, Ireland, Denmark and Romania are working on the project. Each of these countries deals with smoking at work very differently. In Ireland, for example, all workplaces will be smoke-free from 1 January 2004 - including pubs and restaurants while Sweden has already banned smoking at work. In the other countries there is little protection from passive smoking at work.
A website called smokeatwork.org. is being set up and will be developed as information is collected during the project. Later in the year there will be copies of collective agreements, best practice case studies and negotiating guidance on the website.
A set of training materials is also being written for union representatives focusing on how to negotiate smoking policies at work. The courses will be tested across Europe this summer. There are seven pilot courses in the UK and you can find out more about them from your education officer or the TUC education officer. Eventually, the course materials will also be available on the website.
Later in the year the TUC will host a conference in London to coincide with the end of the passive smoking project. Anyone interested in this will find details nearer the time on the project website.
NEWS
26/01/05 - TUC backs pub chain smoking ban
Welcoming the announcement that the JD Weatherspoon pub chain will
ban smoking in all of its 650 pubs by May 2006, Brendan Barber, TUC
General Secretary, said: 'The bogus argument that banning
smoking is a threat to the pub, club and restaurant business must
now fall flat on its face. http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-9263-f0.cfm
Passive smoking 'killing thousands' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1919686.stm
Passive smoking at work: the global pressure mounts. Risks special report: Calls for action to end the passive smoking risk at work and in public spaces are spreading worldwide www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-6529-f0.cfm
To contact the department: healthandsafety@cwu.org
