Political coalitions for mutual advantage: the case of the Tobacco Institute's Labor Management Committee.
In 1984, the tobacco workers' union and the Tobacco Institute, which represents US tobacco companies, formed a labor management committee (LMC). The institute relied on LMC unions to resist smoke-free worksite rules. In a review of the internal tobacco industry documents now publicly available, we found that the LMC succeeded for 2 primary reasons. First, the LMC furthered members' interests, allowing them to overcome institutional barriers to policy success. Second, the LMC used an "institutions, ideas, and interests" strategy to encourage non-LMC unions to oppose smoke-free worksite rules. While public health advocates missed an opportunity to partner with unions on the issue of smoke-free worksites during the era studied, they can use a similar strategy to form coalitions with unions.
Balbach
Edith D
ED
Community Health Program, Tufts University, 112 Packard Ave, Medford, MA 02155, USA. edith.balbach@tufts.edu
Barbeau
Elizabeth M
EM
Manteufel
Viola
V
Pan
Jocelyn
J
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007750:Labor Unions / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008119:Lobbying; D016272:Occupational Health; D011057:Politics; D011640:Public Policy; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017132:Workplace / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution