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News & Views

Campaigning for Asbestos Free Buildings

The VTHC launched its Asbestos Free Buildings Campaign at the CFMEU headquarters to mark the beginning of Asbestos Awareness Week, 2006.

CFMEU Secretary Martin Kingham said the aim of the week was to raise awareness in the community about asbestos and its dangers. ‘This year the VTHC and ADSVIC campaign encourages people to look into their own buildings, and if not free of asbestos, to negotiate an asbestos management plant to eradicate the asbestos and then to place a plaque celebrating this at a point of entry,’ he said. It was appropriate that the first plaque be at the CFMEU, because it was the building unions, including the electricians and plumbers, that have worked for years to protect workers and the community.

VTHC Secretary Brian Boyd, spoke of the decades old fight against asbestos and how unions have always been at the forefront. Brian’s first hand knowledge of this came as National Asbestos Removal Officer for the Builders Labourers Federation (BLF), appointed in 1981 – the first time such a position was full-time. Even then the unions’ strategy was to have asbestos free workplaces: working with industry to ensure safe removal of asbestos, fighting to ban the use of asbestos in new buildings and promoting awareness in the general community. ‘It has been a long battle, but we have had successes: asbestos is now banned in Australia. We also won against James Hardie in getting compensation for victims. But the battle isn’t over yet.’

Peter Gordon, senior partner with law firm Slater and Gordon, recalled that when he joined the company in 1980 the unions’ fight against asbestos was already decades old, with the Miscellaneous Workers Union, whose members worked at James Hardie, were fighting dust levels in the 1950’s, and the Waterside Workers Federation and the Seafarers’ Union raised concerns with the commonwealth government. ‘Asbestos predominantly affected workers, not employers. We need to mourn our dead and look after our living… and at the same time continue to be vigilant about safety and seek better accountability for what’s gone on in Australia,’ he said. ‘While settlement is imminent with James Hardie, it’s a disgrace that it has taken three years. It’s a disgrace too that at no time have they ever put an ad in the paper warning people who may have their products in their home.’

Louise Williams, ADSVIC spokesperson, and Michael Ives, Executive Officer finished off. Louise, who was an office worker, was diagnosed three years ago with mesothelioma. She said, ‘I am a three year survivor – but every day is a struggle.’
 
Michael thanked the VTHC and the CFMEU for promoting the Asbestos Free Workplaces program, ‘It is essential that all of us do everything possible to promote the safe removal of asbestos from workplaces. We have seen the effects of asbestos. Asbestos dust kills – what’s needed in Australia is a cultural change: asbestos is not a past issue, it’s a present issue. I am fearful that inaction will cause future generations of Australian families to suffer the devastation of asbestos related disease,’ he said.