Eddie CassidyDivisional OrganiserMandate Trade UnionIreland

Smoke free Workplaces Smoke free Workplaces A Trade Union View A Trade Union View

Eddie Cassidy, Divisional Organiser,Eddie Cassidy, Divisional Organiser,

Licensed Trade Division Licensed Trade Division

MANDATE TRADE UNIONMANDATE TRADE UNION

The Union of Retail, Bar and Administrative WorkersThe Union of Retail, Bar and Administrative Workers

Profile of Mandate Trade UnionProfile of Mandate Trade Union

40,000 Members – 340,000 Members – 3rdrd largest Union ROI largest Union ROI 3000 + members in Bar Trade – mainly Greater Dublin area3000 + members in Bar Trade – mainly Greater Dublin area Founded in 1994 – seen as the authoritative voice Founded in 1994 – seen as the authoritative voice

representing bar workersrepresenting bar workers Vocal in various campaigns regardingVocal in various campaigns regarding extended pub opening hoursextended pub opening hours liberalization of pub licencesliberalization of pub licences health & safety for bar employeeshealth & safety for bar employees

Why Trade Union Support?Why Trade Union Support?

Health & Safety at WorkHealth & Safety at WorkNo viable alternative ventilation/smoking No viable alternative ventilation/smoking

roomsroomsHospitality Workers most at riskHospitality Workers most at riskHospitality workplaces are places of Hospitality workplaces are places of

entertainment but also employmententertainment but also employment

Public Awareness and Support - Post BanPublic Awareness and Support - Post Ban

82% support ban82% support ban

95% say it’s a positive health measure95% say it’s a positive health measure

90% say it benefits workers90% say it benefits workers

82% say it benefits everyone82% say it benefits everyone

78% say experience of restaurants improved78% say experience of restaurants improved

70% say experience of pubs improved70% say experience of pubs improved

53% more inclined to eat in pubs53% more inclined to eat in pubs

One Year On (March 2005)One Year On (March 2005)

94% of all workplaces inspected were smokefree94% of all workplaces inspected were smokefree 93% of all hospitality workplaces inspected were 93% of all hospitality workplaces inspected were

smokefreesmokefree 98% of people believe that workplaces are healthier98% of people believe that workplaces are healthier 96% of people believe that smokefree law is a 96% of people believe that smokefree law is a

successsuccess 93% of people think the smokefree law is a good 93% of people think the smokefree law is a good

ideaidea 38 Prosecutions 200538 Prosecutions 2005

One Year On from Behind the BarOne Year On from Behind the Bar

Levels of Carbon Monoxide have decreased by 45% in non-Levels of Carbon Monoxide have decreased by 45% in non-smoking barworkers (respiratory laboratory, St. James’s smoking barworkers (respiratory laboratory, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin – a Study of 81 barworkers pre and post Hospital, Dublin – a Study of 81 barworkers pre and post the ban)the ban)

Bar workers support (TSN/mrbi poll)Bar workers support (TSN/mrbi poll) Pre ban 71%Pre ban 71% Post ban 87%Post ban 87%

87% believed the ban has had a positive impact on their 87% believed the ban has had a positive impact on their healthhealth

82% found it easier to breath82% found it easier to breath 94% had little or no difficulty enforcing the ban94% had little or no difficulty enforcing the ban

Compliance Building Compliance Building

Dialogue with Employers and Employee Dialogue with Employers and Employee OrganisationsOrganisations

Practical Codes of Practice for Employers and Practical Codes of Practice for Employers and specifically for the hospitality industryspecifically for the hospitality industry

Guidelines for signs and posters for pubs – Guidelines for signs and posters for pubs – Mandatory Mandatory “No Smoking Signage”“No Smoking Signage”

Smoke Free Compliance Line (free phone)Smoke Free Compliance Line (free phone) Public debate not anti-smoker but a health and Public debate not anti-smoker but a health and

safety issuesafety issue 1,353 calls to the compliance line 20051,353 calls to the compliance line 2005

Public Health (Tobacco) Acts Public Health (Tobacco) Acts Section 47Section 47

Offence for a person to smoke in a Offence for a person to smoke in a specified placespecified place

Owner, Manager or other person in charge Owner, Manager or other person in charge each guilty of an offence where there is a each guilty of an offence where there is a contravention of the Lawcontravention of the Law

Defence if a person can show they made Defence if a person can show they made all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance

Business ImpactBusiness Impact

Publicans have implemented the ban and many have invested in Publicans have implemented the ban and many have invested in

outdoor smoking facilitiesoutdoor smoking facilities

Impact of the ban on jobs has been marginal with very few Impact of the ban on jobs has been marginal with very few

reported job losses attributed solely to the banreported job losses attributed solely to the ban

Irish Licensed Trade had been going through a difficult period Irish Licensed Trade had been going through a difficult period

prior to the ban and this has continued prior to the ban and this has continued

Volume bar sales have been in decline since 2001:Volume bar sales have been in decline since 2001:

-4.2% year ending 2003-4.2% year ending 2003

-4.4% year ending 2004-4.4% year ending 2004

Business Impact (cont’d)Business Impact (cont’d)

Main factors impacting on bar tradeMain factors impacting on bar trade

Increased Price Competition – Supermarkets and Off-LicencesIncreased Price Competition – Supermarkets and Off-Licences

Change in lifestylesChange in lifestyles

Level of indebtedness of the Irish populationLevel of indebtedness of the Irish population

High level of excise duty on alcohol in Republic of IrelandHigh level of excise duty on alcohol in Republic of Ireland

Smoking banSmoking ban