Vancouver, February 2, 2000... The United Injured & Disabled Workers Association of BC (UIDWA) today joined the Coalition of Hospitality Organizations’ fight against the NDP government’s smoking ban.

UIDWA is joining the broad-based Hospitality Coalition because they believe that the WCB’s smoking ban was never intended to protect workers.

UIDWA President Barry Alden said "The WCB continues to ignore thousands of seriously injured workers. Instead, they are using a politically expedient smoking ban to deflect media attention from their failure to protect, defend and compensate seriously injured workers."

He added "The WCB will never process a claim for second hand smoke if a worker has smoked a cigarette once in his life. That would eliminate 95% of hospitality workers in one fell swoop."

"The WCB’s misguided and disingenuous motives on the smoking ban are a betrayal of workers around the province. The regulation is a back door attempt to stop people from smoking, and it is hurting the hospitality industry and putting people out of work." he concluded.

Rick Boyd, President of the BC & Yukon Hotel Association said "We are overwhelmed by the number of groups and individuals that are coming forward to express their opposition to this punitive government regulation. The WCB should be protecting workers facing serious threats, rather than sniffing out smokers in a bar."

He added, "Clearly, the smoking ban isn’t working when 560 people have lost their jobs, 6,600 snitch calls have been logged, provincial lottery machines are being ripped out of pubs, and businesses are losing 25%-65% of their revenues. The Premier needs to appoint a mediator now so we can get back to the table with a ventilation solution."

UIDWA was formed in 1979 to defend injured and disabled workers in their claims against the WCB. The Coalition of Hospitality Organizations is a group of affected industry organizations, injured workers, and individuals that support a ventilation solution.

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For more information:

Barry Alden Rick Boyd

President, UIDWA President, BCYHA

1.604.826.5820 604.671.0879 (cell)