In a bold act of defiance, members of the United Auto Workers union disrupted a meeting of a state Assembly committee in Trenton, New Jersey. The committee had been set to vote on a bill that would ban smoking in Atlantic City's casinos. Frustrated with the lack of progress on the smoking ban, the workers decided to take matters into their own hands by lighting cigarettes and blowing smoke towards legislators.

The vote on the smoking ban had been canceled the previous night when one of the bill's main supporters, State Sen. Vince Polistina, gave up on the idea of a total ban and instead embraced some measures favored by the casino industry, such as enclosed smoking rooms. This decision left many employees furious, as they saw it as a betrayal of their cause.

Seven members of the United Auto Workers union, which represents dealers at three Atlantic City casinos, took their protest to the meeting hall of the State House Annex. Despite smoking being prohibited in the workplace, the workers began smoking in the hall, making a powerful statement about the hypocrisy they felt was being displayed by lawmakers. Daniel Vicente, a regional director of the union, pointed out the double standard, stating, "We're not allowed to smoke in your workplace, but you're allowed to smoke in ours."

The workers were eventually escorted out of the hearing room by State Police but were released without charges. Speaking after the incident, Vicente explained that the workers wanted to highlight the injustice they felt in being subjected to secondhand smoke on a daily basis while their own workplace remained smoke-free. The workers called on the state's top Democratic leadership to force a vote on the original smoking ban bill, but it remains uncertain whether such a vote will take place.

State Sen. Vince Polistina, a Republican from the Atlantic City area, acknowledged that the original bill is unlikely to pass and announced his intention to draft a new measure. This new bill would incorporate proposals favored by the casino industry while still aiming to protect workers and customers who prefer to be in a smoke-free environment. Polistina plans to introduce the new bill after the current legislative session ends.

The proposed new bill would gradually reduce smoking at slot machines over 18 months and require specific distances between table games and the nearest smoking-permitted slot machines. It would also provide the casinos with 18 months to build enclosed rooms where gamblers could still smoke, staffed by employees who volunteer to work in them. However, these measures were met with criticism from Shawn Fain, the international president of the United Auto Workers, who labeled the idea of smoking rooms “preposterous” and urged lawmakers to pass the original smoking ban bill.

Senate President Nicholas Scutari declined to comment on the situation, while Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin expressed his commitment to finding a solution in both houses of the Legislature but did not indicate which approach he favored.

The issue of smoking in Atlantic City's casinos has long been a contentious one. New Jersey's public smoking law currently exempts casinos, a provision that workers have been trying to change. However, the casinos argue that implementing a smoking ban would put them at a competitive disadvantage and lead to a loss of business and jobs. Workers dispute this claim, citing research that shows business improved at numerous casinos after smoking bans were implemented.

The Casino Association of New Jersey recently declined to provide details on its vision for smoking rooms but released a statement asserting that the proposed smoking ban would have a detrimental effect on Atlantic City's economy.

Despite the workers' protest, it is uncertain whether their actions will lead to any immediate change. However, they have succeeded in drawing attention to their frustration and anger at the current state of affairs. The fight for a smoking ban in Atlantic City's casinos continues, with workers determined to make their voices heard and bring about the change they believe is necessary.