SIPTU delegates yesterday backed the legislation to ban smoking in the workplace, but only after a vigorous debate in which it was claimed jobs were under threat.
A motion from the union's Meath branch called on SIPTU's national executive council to lobby Government departments to insist the ban is fully implemented and "does not get diluted in any shape or form".
Proposing it, Meath delegate Mr Tony McEnroe said if current trends continued, millions of people worldwide would be killed by tobacco.
Opposing the motion, Ms Marian Maher of the drinks, tobacco and wholesale distribution branch, said members working in the tobacco industry wished to put on record that they respected the health and safety of all citizens, and they accepted there should be restrictions on where one should smoke.
"However, we believe a total ban in every location is unreasonable," she said.
A blanket ban in all public venues and workplaces would be difficult to enforce and difficult for many workers to comply with, she said.
"We take this view, not because we are workers in the industry, but because some of us, and many of you, are smokers. Those on the side of the total ban will argue that we must do what is right. We are arguing that on this issue, we should support what is necessary. These are our genuine views and are independent of our employers and any other vested interest lobbying on this issue." Mr Tom Donovan, of the same branch, said the motion from the Meath branch made no reference to workers.
"You don't vote people out of work, and that's what this motion is actually doing."
Another opponent of the motion, Ms Elaine Harvey of the Galway No 2 branch, said one person's workplace could be another person's home.
"If I live in a home for battered wives, that's someone else's workplace. If I'm unfortunate enough to be taken into a psychiatric unit, that's someone else's workplace." Her branch was against the proposed ban because it was too inflexible.
However, Ms Lisa Halpin of the State and related agencies branch, said every worker had the right to a clean and safe environment wherever they worked. "If we allow this motion to fall or be diluted, we're saying that the profits of restaurateurs and pub-owners are more important than the health and safety of our fellow workers."
Mr Andrew McGuinness of the Dublin construction branch said he was a smoker, but that was his social choice. Workers did not have a choice, and the ban should be supported. The motion was passed by a margin of nearly two to one.
Mandate, the union representing bar workers, is strongly in favour of the ban as proposed.
