General Motors' Adoption of Smoke-Free Policy in All Ingham County Plants/MI

The Center for Social Gerontology ^ | 5 July 2002 | Jim Bergman

[SheLion]

General Motors' Adoption of Smoke-Free Policy in All Ingham County Plants Hailed by Smoke-Free Environments Law Project of The Center for Social Gerontology.

The Center for Social Gerontology (TCSG), based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and its Smoke-Free Environments Law Project hailed the actions of the General Motors Corporation in adopting a total ban on smoking in all its Ingham County, Michigan plants and facilities, effective August 5, 2002.

Jim Bergman, TCSG Co-Director and head of the Smoke-Free Environments Law Project said: "General Motors management is to be highly praised for announcing the adoption of a totally smoke-free policy in all their Ingham County auto plants. Having worked very closely with the Ingham County Commissioners and Health Department on the adoption of a county-wide smoke-free worksite regulation, which was enacted on February 12, 2002, we at the Smoke-Free Environments Law Project are aware that General Motors could have sought permission to create designated smoking areas in their plants. Instead, they have opted to 'adopt a wall-to-wall no smoking policy' which applies to 'all employees, contractors and visitors,' effective August 5, 2002.

This is a tremendous victory for workers - old and young - whose health was threatened by secondhand smoke in General Motors facilities, a number of whom sought help from our Smoke-Free Environments Law Project in recent years. We also commend the Ingham County Health Department for their work with General Motors on this policy."

"The adoption by General Motors of a total ban on smoking in its Ingham County facilities is huge - for GM workers and in its implications for all businesses. This action by General Motors shows that corporations of any size can adapt to smoke-free policies and that union members - most of whom are not smokers - will accept such policies for their own health and the health of their co-workers. We hope and expect that other corporations will follow the lead of GM in adopting smoke-free policies," stated Bergman.

To access a copy of the General Motors smoke-free policy online, go to http://www.tcsg.org/sfelp/images/GM.jpg To access a copy of the Ingham County smoke-free regulation, go to http://www.ingham.org/BC/adoptedsmokingregulation.PDF

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The Center for Social Gerontology (TCSG), was founded in 1972 as a nonprofit, research, training and social policy organization, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) is a statewide project of TCSG which provides information, consultation and advice for businesses, local units of government, and individuals in Michigan on policies and practices to protect employees and the general public from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke and to address the legal requirements and liability issues related to secondhand smoke.

For comprehensive information on this topic, go to the web site of the Smoke-Free Environments Law Project at http://www.tcsg.org/sfelp/home.htm.

[SheLion]

This is a trend starting with big corporations. SAPPI Paper Mills went completely smoke free 1 July. An employee will be terminated if they are caught smoking, even in their private vehicle on the lot.

[SheLion]

Think of the employee's who have to put food on the tables at home, and now they aren't allowed to grab a quick smoke at work. If GM is allowed to get away with this, the rest will be soon to follow.

I don't know about you, but this is tearing at my gut, and I'm a woman!

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

An employee will be terminated if they are caught smoking, even in their private vehicle on the lot.

Really? Wow, that is a strict policy.....I believe this is the first I've heard of a policy like that.....Where is that plant?

[SheLion]

What good are UNIONS????

UNIONS ARE WORTHLESS!

[SheLion]

Really? Wow, that is a strict policy.....I believe this is the first I've heard of a policy like that.....Where is that plant?

Michigan. Isn't this horrible?

SAPPI Paper Mills went completely smoke free 1 July as well. The employees were told that if they "are caught smoking ANY where on the grounds, they will be terminated!"

[Commiewatcher]

What good are UNIONS????

If they accept this then lets see them 'step up to the plate' and ban smoking in and around UNION HALLS also.

[Slyfox]

The Center for Social Gerontology are a bunch of fricking liberal maggots. I studied gerontology as my major in college. They were THE MOST IMMORAL group of people I ever met in my life. It stands to reason they would be at the forefront of something stupid like this.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

SAPPI Paper Mills went completely smoke free 1 July as well. The employees were told that if they "are caught smoking ANY where on the grounds, they will be terminated!"

The reason may be a practical one. Litter. Smokers,as a group, are very filthy. Cigarette butts all over the entranceways, and all over the lawns. The butts far outnumber any other scrap of trash. Maybe the corporations just got tired of cleaning it up.

Don't like it? You can always work elsewhere.

[Vladiator]

Yeah, isn't it terible? The incidence of lung cancer will go down, the number of childhood ilnesses among these employees' children will go down, the health care costs will go down and these people will live longer.

Those damn corporate bastards!

[SheLion]

It's all about CONTROL, nohorse! You know it and I know it. And why the 'ell' don't they just ban the damn stuff.

See how THAT will go over! I watched a Documentary on Hitler last night, and they say things go full circle. Believe me, it's going full circle!

[SheLion]

All UNIONS want today is your MONEY! They are totally useless, IMO.

They are supposed to be FOR the people, not FOR the Corporation. What the heck happened here! Who bought out the UNIONS????

[SheLion]

Don't like it? You can always work elsewhere.

I'm not even going to respond to your asinine remark, Dog.

[SheLion]

Yeah, isn't it terible? The incidence of lung cancer will go down, the number of childhood ilnesses among these employees' children will go down, the health care costs will go down and these people will live longer.

I'm not even going to respond to your asinine remark, Vladiator. You must be related to DOG.

I will say ONE thing: smokers pay more then their fair share of health care, so don't give me that brain washed opinion.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

Companies have a right to determine what goes on on their property, whether it be smoking or non-smoking.

If you don't believe that, then you are no different from those liberals who want to control the posessions and property of others.

[mysterio]

When they get around to banning your personal vice, I hope someone stands up for you.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

See my post #16

[mysterio]

This is not the point, and you know it. The point is the persecution of smokers reaching epidemic levels. The state balances its budget on the backs of smokers, but they are still treated like second class citizens. The taxing of cigarettes is a crime wave waiting to happen. Not being able to smoke in one's own car borders on insanity. Termination for one offense borders on criminal. You don't support Nazi tactics in government. Why do you support them in the workplace?

[Great Dane]

The reason may be a practical one. Litter. Smokers,as a group, are very filthy. Cigarette butts all over the entranceways, and all over the lawns. The butts far outnumber any other scrap of trash. Maybe the corporations just got tired of cleaning it up.

There you go again, trust me I see a lot of non-smokers litter, guess it's alright to litter with diapers, fast food containers, plastic jugs, papers and whatever else people litter with...... just as long as it is "BUTT's." such hypocricy.