World No Tobacco Day

Date: 31 May 2001

Job Insecurity a threat to health
Casuals put up with smoke risk

The LHMU Hospitality Union says the threat of losing their hours is stopping casual workers from complaining about the potential risk to their health from patrons smoking.

" The biggest risk from passive smoking is to staff working in bars," says Helen Creed, National President andWA Secretary of the LHMU. " In these areas, most workers are employed on a casual basis.

" We've found that they are afraid to raise the issue with employers, for fear of having their hours cut."

Ms Creed says that the recent case where a NSW bar worker was awarded over $450,000 in compensation after contracting throat cancer should serve as a warning to employers.

"There are no workers in any other industry who still have to endure cigarette smoke in their workplace."

" It's unacceptable that workers put up with this risk to their health, simply because they're afraid of losing their jobs.

" We call upon employers to promote their bars as entirely smoke-free for their employees' safety."

Ms Creed also cautioned that even though Burswood Casino in WA promotes itself for having extended the smoke-free areas, this has concentrated smokers into a smaller area making it worse for the staff who are rostered to work in those areas.

CONTACT:

HELEN CREED

PHONE 08 9388 5400

PAGE 08 9485 7855

MOBILE 0403 572 042

For further information

Contact:	Andrew Casey
Union:	Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union
Phone:	8204 7206
Fax:	92821 4480
Email:	andrewc@lhmu.org.au
WWW:	http://www.lhmu.org.au/

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