Retail union Usdaw is backing an amendment to plans to ban smoking in workplaces that will include private members’ clubs, exempt under the current proposals.
The union represents bar stewards and stewardess in private members’ clubs, and believes the amendment will close a loophole that would have serious health implications for its members.
“If private members’ clubs are exempt from the workplace smoking ban, then we fear that smokers may just migrate there from pubs, making the problems resulting from passive smoking even worse,” Usdaw general secretary John Hannett said.
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“Our members…want the same health protection as other workers will receive, which is why we’re backing this sensible amendment.”
MPs are due to get a free vote on smoking legislation in Parliament this week.
