I agree - What good are Unions?? I have asked the union to help me. I agree with no smoking policies in the work place. I work on an assembly line, and am forced to work across and next to people who smoke. It is not the same as going into a restaurant or bar, I am able to leave those places by my own free will. But not at work. I cannot leave my station without being disciplined by management. The "union" says there is nothing they can do to help me. This is the ultimate form of discrimination. I am not standing for it, and have taken steps to remedy the situation myself. Three cheers for GM in Michigan. Now if my own GM plant would follow suit!!
I have asked the union to help me. I agree with no smoking policies in the work place. I work on an assembly line At one time in my early life, I worked at Packard Electic, and I made wire harnesses on a line for vehicles. That was many moons ago, and even back then, we were not permitted to smoke at our stations. But the plant did provide a nice break room where we went to have coffee and our cigarettes.
When we got ahead on our work, then we took our breaks back at the break-room. This is fair. And if there are non-smokers who wish not to be around smokers, provide them with their own little break-room as well. Worked great.