The Irony of Union Anger Over Smoking Ban

-By Warner Todd Huston

Last month, the UAW got their overalls in a bundle over a smoking ban instituted at the Caterpillar manufacturing plant in East Peoria, Illinois. The union got so mad they filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board claiming that the “60 year privilege” of smoking at the plant had been unfairly broken by the plant management who instituted a smoking ban that will be imposed on all U.S. properties.

The United Auto Workers union filed an unfair labor practice charge against Caterpillar Inc. over a smoking ban that goes into effect at all of its U.S. properties on Sunday.

The union claims the ban goes against

Where is the irony? Well, here we have a union that traditionally claims to have everyone’s interests at heart, claims to be more interested in the worker’s health and safety than management is, even desires to have control over what management does to make sure everyone is happy, safe, and healthy.

Yet, here they are upset over a management decision that will positively affect the health of the workers?

So, do we have a management that cares more about the worker’s health than the union does?

Sure looks like it.

Ah, the irony.