ASH Daily News for 03/11/2004
HEADLINES
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ASH Daily News
3 November 2004
HEADLINES
Smoking licences for pubs?
Move to end smoking in cabs
BAT faces 24-hour strike at Southampton plant
FULL TEXT
Smoking licences for pubs?
The latest leak concerning Government plans for a ban on smoking in public places is believed to involve licensed smoking premises.
Under the proposals restaurants and pubs would be able to apply to local councils for a licence. A similar scheme might also apply in workplaces with a specific room set aside for smoking.
According to press speculation Health Secretary John Reid is distributing the proposals to members of domestic cabinet committees in advance of the White Paper, due in a fortnight.
Whilst guidelines would be set nationally, Mr Reid's licensing plans would leave implementation and regulation to local authorities.
Frank Dobson, a former Health Secretary, has warned Mr Reid not to accept a compromise. Members of the all-party parliamentary group on smoking have also called for a complete ban.
Source: The Guardian, Times, Sun, 3 November 2004
Move to end smoking in cabs
Smokers could be refused a lift by London cab drivers under new proposals announced by the city's Mayor.
Until now, cab drivers had no legal right to refuse to transport a smoker. However the Public Carriage Office said a cab driver could decline a fare, if they had "good cause" for doing so. The Mayor, who is campaigning for a broader city-wide ban on workplace smoking, said it was unacceptable that drivers should have to inhale somebody else's smoke.
Mayor Livingstone has asked the national government for powers to implement a ban on smoking in all London workplaces, including offices and restaurants.
Mr Livingstone's initiative comes in the wake of a current opinion poll showing overwhelming backing for fresh curbs to be imposed in public places.
In the survey 65 percent of Londoners supported a total ban on smoking in all workplaces, including offices, factories and restaurants. 75 percent supported a ban on smoking in the office, with 72 percent favouring a ban in shopping centres and 71 percent for a ban in taxis.
Source: International Herald Tribune, Guardian, Daily Express, Sun, 3 November 2004
BAT faces 24-hour strike at Southampton plant
Four hundred UK workers at British American Tobacco (BAT) are expected to go on strike in protest over the company's two-year pay offer.
Members of the Amicus trade union will down tools at 6 am today at the company's Southampton factory for a 24-hour walkout. Another strike is set for Wednesday next week unless management offer a new wage deal.
Pay negotiations broke down between company and the union after BAT refused to increase its 2.6 percent pay increase for 2004 and a 3 percent rise for 2005.
Workers want 3 percent for 2004 and do not want to agree the pay rise for 2005 until next year.
An Amicus spokesman said: "BAT recently announced profits of £1.5billion for the past 9 months. It would only cost the company £80,000 more to increase the pay offer from 2.6 percent to 3 percent."
Source: Independent, Financial Times, 3 November 2004
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Harold Wilson
ASH
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http://www.ash.org.uk
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