Campaign Success: Focus on Employees and their Health Dawn Berney, MPA Wisconsin Public Health and Health Policy Institute Teresa Ryan, BS Tobacco-Free Dane County Coalition

Madison’s Clean Indoor Air History Passed first smokefree restaurant ordinance (33% or less alcohol sales) Passed smokefree workplace ordinance (excluded restaurants and bars) Passed ordinance to make smokefree those restaurants with 50% or less alcohol sales.

Problem – Little interest in improving 2002 restaurant ordinance 2002 smokefree Restaurant ordinance included:  Exemptions for hardship clause and for restaurants with existing separately ventilated smoking rooms.  Varying implementation date depending on alcohol sales  Created an uneven playing field between restaurants and bars.  Ordinance did not protect workers in bars, bowling alleys, or many restaurants

Solution -- Opportunity Knocks  Alder wanted to fix ordinance loopholes.  Our secret weapon – University of Wisconsin students who wanted to partner with coalition for smokefree bars  Many communities and states had recently passed 100% smokefree workplace ordinances (including restaurants and bars). It was no longer “weird” to be smokefree

Arguments Against 100% Smokefree Workplaces  Customers can choose to frequent smokefree restaurants and bars  Businesses will lose revenue  Should not be government’s role but a business owners decision

Solution – Focus on Workers’ Rights, Not Customers’ Rights  Similar to other arguments related to employment such as: Minimum wage Health and safety Workers in the hospitality industry cannot chose where they want to work.

Solution – Educate Politicians, Community and Media about Health Effects for Restaurant and Bar Workers Inhale approximately one pack worth of secondhand smoke during an eight hour shift 34% more likely to get lung cancer Unlikely to be offered health care benefits Often hospitality jobs offer most flexible schedules

Solution – Use Grassroots advocates to get out the message Testimony from musicians, restaurant & bar workers at hearings Coalition members and staff participated in petition drive Volunteer driven website – database was key Calls and letters generated to Mayor & alders from hospitality workers who supported the ordinance.

Solution – Send Message through Media Editorial Boards Letters to the Editor TV and Radio Interviews Letters, calls and meetings with government officials

Conclusions People are willing to support laws that protect workers from danger – use this to support your position Find an advocate in your governing body who will promote this position Work with employees to further the cause Get out the message any way you can (cell phones work great)

For more information on Madison, Wisconsin’s Clean Indoor Air Campaign Contact: Dawn Berney Training & Technical Assistance Program in Tobacco Control Wisconsin Public Health and Health Policy Institute University of Wisconsin Medical School 370 WARF Building, 610 N. Walnut St. Madison, WI (608) (phone) (608) (fax)