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Faculty, staff argue against smoking ban at state universities

Faculty, staff argue against smoking ban at state universities

HARRISBURG -- The union representing 6,000 professors and coaches at Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned universities brought its beef about a new campus-wide ban on smoking to the state Labor Relations Board today.

The unfair labor practice complaint was filed by the Association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculties. It's upset with the State System of Higher Education for imposing a ban on smoking, outdoors as well as indoors, on all 14 campuses. The ban took effect Sept. 11, when the state's new Clean Indoor Air Act took effect.

System officials said they believe they are correctly interpreting the act by banning smoking in all outside areas on all the campuses. Indoor smoking had been largely banned before the new law.

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Several professors who are APSCUF members testified today that it takes at least twice as long, as much as 20 minutes, for them to walk out of their offices and go to the nearest public street off-campus in order to smoke. That compares to just a few minutes, under the old policy, because all they had to do was step a few feet outside their buildings.

Union spokesman Kevin Kodish said the state system unilaterally imposed the new no-smoking rule, which should have been bargained with the union because it changes working conditions.

"If they had continued to allow smoking outside, we wouldn't be here today," he said.

System spokesman Kenn Marshall said the system, based on "our interpretation of the Clean Indoor Air Act," doesn't believe smoking can be permitted in outdoor areas of the campuses, but is willing to discuss some modifications, such as allowing people to smoke inside their cars in campus parking lots as long as the windows are rolled up.

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Labor board hearing officer Donald Wallace will get final briefs from both sides in January and is expected to issue a decision in February.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

First Published: December 23, 2008, 5:00 p.m.

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