WorkSHIFTS Toolkits

A Union Guide to Tobacco

This guide was designed by WorkSHIFTS in partnership with representatives of Minnesota’s labor community and the Labor Education Service of the University of Minnesota as a resource guide and educational tool for union leaders. The seven-unit toolkit and accompanying flyers contain a wealth of information union leaders can use to:

• Build awareness among members about the health and economic harms associated with tobacco use and workers’ exposure to secondhand smoke;
• Support members who smoke or chew to achieve the goal of quitting tobacco use;
• Negotiate for effective cessation services to be included as a core health care benefit;
• Develop and implement reasonable workplace smoking policies;  
• Partner with the public health community to advocate for labor’s right to health.

An Employer Guide to Tobacco

This guide was designed by WorkSHIFTS in partnership with representatives of Minnesota’s labor community and the Labor Education Service of the University of Minnesota as a resource guide for employers who want to address tobacco-related workplace issues from the perspective of labor-management cooperation. The four-unit toolkit contains information for employers about:

• economic costs associated with tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke in the workplace;
• developing and implementing effective workplace smoking policies;  
• legal principles and issues involved with implementing a workplace smoking policy;
• helping employees who smoke or chew achieve the goal of quitting tobacco use