Wages of Service Industry Workers

Today's Indianapolis Star, has an interesting article on the wages that Indiana's service industry workers earn on the job. Waiters and Waitresses are still only making $2.13 an hour plus tips, which works out to be $12-$15 an hour. As can be imagined this is a small amount in which we are asking the people who serve us food and drinks to live on. When you factor this amount in with the fact that most restaurants and bars do not offer health insurance, you have a group of people who desperately need to work in an environment that does not give them cancer. The servers and bartenders of today unfortunately could be the individuals of tomorrow who need government assistance for health care costs if they work in a smoky place. Indiana and Indianapolis needs to pass a strong smokefree air law that protects all workers from the cancer causing chemicals in secondhand smoke. We need a strong law now, and not one that is watered down with exemptions.

Star Editorial

Today, the Indianapolis Star published another supportive editorial on the need to pass a strong smokefree air law in Indiana. We thank the Star for continually standing up for the rights of all Indiana workers to breathe smokefree air. Also today, there were several news conference held around the state by local coalitions and organizations, including Smoke Free Indy, asking for the exemptions to be removed from HB 1018. It is important that all workers are protected from the harmful chemicals in secondhand smoke. Many of our neighbors have strong smoke free air laws that cover all workplaces including bars (Illinois, Ohio and Michigan) along with 21 other states. Now is the time to pass a strong smokefree air law for the health of all Hoosiers.

HB 1018 Update

Yesterday, the Senate Public Policy Committee heard several hours of testimony both for and against HB 1018, the smokefree air bill. Unfortunately, not a lot of progress happened at the hearing with no real consensus being made by the members of the committee. They will be meeting again next week to decide on removing the exemptions for bars, membership clubs, casinos, nursing homes and/or tobacco stores. They could also decide to add in more exemptions that would exclude even more workplaces in Indiana, further exposing workers to the harmful chemicals in secondhand smoke.

During the hearing there was very moving testimony given by Alice Curry of Columbus, who has stage four lung cancer even though she never smoked, but she did work in smokey environments. She pleaded with the committee to not let another worker in Indiana experience what she is going through by passing a comprehensive smokefree air law. Though it appears that members of the committee may very well turn a deaf ear to her pleas and either not pass a comprehensive bill and or pass one that is so watered down that it proves to be useless.

We are surrounded by smokefree states, and every year more and more states are going smoke free in all businesses including restaurants and bars. How is it that Indiana is so far behind on this issue? Do we really need to be last on everything? The fact that the room yesterday was littered by tobacco and casino lobbyist may tip the hat as to why Indiana can't pass a good public health bill that will save lives and money and is instead budding up to special interests.

Smokefree Air Laws Do Not Impact Off Track Betting Parlors

A new study out in this month's Tobacco Control Journal, finds that smokefree air laws do not impact business in off-track betting parlors (OTB). The research was done by Jon Macy at Indiana University and covers OTB's in Indiana. Macy found that Fort Wayne's OTB did not loose business after going smokefree compared to the OTB's in Indianapolis and Merrillville that allow smoking. All three OTB's business fluctuated with the economy at a similar rate even after the Fort Wayne smokefree air law was implemented in 2007.

This study is very important because it debunks the claim by the gambling industry that going smokefree will hurt their business. This study aligns itself with the many other studies done across the nation which found that going smokefree does not harm restaurant or bar revenue.

If the state does not pass a smokefree air bill this session, hopefully Indianapolis will pass a law that covers all businesses including our OTB sooner rather than later. If 24 states and countless cities can go smokefree, Why Not Indy?

Hearing on HB 1018

This Wednesday, March 23rd, at 1:30 p.m. in room 431 there will be a hearing on HB 1018 in the Senate Public Policy Committee. The hearing will offer a time for supporters of a statewide smokefree air law to come forward and show their support for the bill.

If you would like to contact members of the committee in support of HB 1018, you can visit this link to send messages to the individual Committee members.

List of Public Policy Committee Members:
Senator Ron Alting (Chair, Co-sponsor)
Senator Vaneta Becker
Senator Mike Delph
Senator Randy Head
Senator Jim Merritt
Senator Joe Zakas
Senator Tim Lanane
Senator Greg Taylor (Co-sponsor)
Senator Jim Arnold
Senator Brent Waltz

Every worker deserves the right to breathe smokefree air, including those in bars, casinos and private clubs.