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UCATT North West



UCATT North West

56 Derwent Road East
Stoneycroft
Liverpool
L13 6QR

Tel 0151 228 8455
Fax 0151 228 7735

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Asbestos Activists Take Campaign To Cabinet Ministers Constituencies

Tomorrow (August 29) members of construction union UCATT and other asbestos activists will take their campaign for justice for pleural plaque sufferers directly to the seats of two prominent Cabinet ministers.

The two constituencies being targeted are the Blackburn seat of Justice Secretary Jack Straw and the Leeds Central constituency of Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, which has the highest number of asbestos related deaths in Yorkshire.

The campaigners are disappointed that a recently published consultation paper on pleural plaques has said that the Government “is not minded” to overturn a Law Lords decision last October to deny pleural plaques victims compensation for their injuries.

UCATT campaigners will be:

OUTSIDE DEBENHAMS

NORTHGATE

BLACKBURN

From 11.30am – 1.30pm

A separate group of UCATT activists and asbestos campaigners will congregate in:

LANDS LANE

LEEDS

LS1 6AW

From 11am – 1pm

Pleural plaques are scarring of the lung caused by heavy and prolonged exposure to asbestos. The scars become visible on x-rays following calcification. Pleural plaques can cause physical symptoms, with victims suffering from severe mental distress. Pleural plaques sufferers have a greatly increased chance of contracting the incurable lung disease mesothelioma.

Compensation for pleural plaques is a relatively low financial amount. However if a pleural plaque victim then develops the fatal lung cancer mesothelioma, the relevant insurers will have already been identified, meaning that compensation will be paid in a victim’s lifetime. If the insurers have not already been identified this is unlikely to occur.

Last October the Law Lords overturned over 20 years of common law and ruled that pleural plaques should no longer be a compensational illness. Their decision is understood to be worth £1.4 billion to the insurance industry.

Since that judgement asbestos campaigners led by UCATT have been attempting to get the Government to overturn the Law Lords decision. UCATT organised a highly successful postcard campaign, with thousands of people writing to the Ministry of Justice to get the ban overturned.

In July the Government released a consultation document on pleural plaques. While UCATT was pleased that the Government was actively considering the issue, they were disappointed that the document says the “Government is not minded” to overturn the Law Lords decision. This potentially places the Government at odds with the Scottish Parliament, who have already brought forward a Bill to overturn the Law Lords judgement. UCATT fears that a postcode lottery could be created with pleural plaque victims in Scotland receiving full compensation, while those in England are given less recompense.

Rather than overturn the Law Lords the Government appears inclined to create a scheme for asbestos victims. Such a scheme would not identify liability and attribute blame. The level of compensation provided by the scheme is also likely to prove inadequate.

The Justice Secretary Jack Straw is the key minister in the pleural plaque campaign. The Justice Department issued the consultation document on pleural plaques, it will be primarily Mr Straw’s decision if the Government decides to overturn the Law Lords decision.

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: “It would be unfair and intolerable if pleural plaque victims north of the border received compensation, while those in England did not.”

Last month UCATT successfully targeted the constituencies of Foreign Secretary David Milliband and Business Secretary John Hutton, as part of their campaign to overturn the Law Lords decision on compensation for pleural plaques victims.

Last year other 2,000 people died of mesothelioma the figure is set to rise further.

For Further information on the Leeds activity contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235

Or for Blackburn contact Jim Kennedy on 07894 414606 or George Guy or 0789 4414625

Activists will be available for interview and photocall

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Asbestos Activists Take Campaign To Jack Straw’s Blackburn Constituency

Members of construction union UCATT will this week extend their campaign to win justice for victims of pleural plaques by campaigning in the Blackburn constituency of Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

Every year hundreds of people in Blackburn and throughout Lancashire die of asbestos diseases. Many deaths were traditionally associated with asbestos factories and heavy industries. Construction workers are now at greatest risk from asbestos, due to the material’s heavy usage in buildings.

UCATT campaigners will be:

Outside Debenhams

Northgate

Blackburn

BB2 1NP

Friday 29 August 2008

From 11.30am – 1.30pm

Pleural plaques are scarring of the lungs caused by heavy and prolonged exposure to asbestos. The scars become visible on x-rays following calcification. Pleural plaques cause limited physical symptoms, however victims suffer severe mental distress. Pleural plaques sufferers have a greatly increased chance of contracting the incurable lung disease mesothelioma.

Compensation for pleural plaques is a relatively low financial amount. However if a pleural plaque victim then develops the fatal lung cancer mesothelioma, the relevant insurers will have already been identified, meaning that compensation will be paid in a victim’s lifetime. If the insurers have not already been identified this is unlikely to occur.

Last October the Law Lords overturned over 20 years of common law and ruled that pleural plaques should no longer be a compensational illness. Their decision is understood to be worth at least £1.4 billion to the insurance industry.

Since that judgement asbestos campaigners led by UCATT have been attempting to get the Government to overturn the House of Lords decision. UCATT organised a highly successful postcard campaign, with thousands of people writing to the Ministry of Justice to get the ban overturned.

In July the Government released a consultation document on pleural plaques. While UCATT was pleased that the Government was actively considering the issue, they were disappointed that the document says the “Government is not minded” to overturn the Law Lords decision. This potentially places the Government at odds with the Scottish Parliament, who have already brought forward a Bill to overturn the Law Lords judgement. UCATT fears that a postcode lottery could be created with pleural plaques victims in Scotland receiving full compensation, while those in England are given less recompense.

Rather than overturn the Law Lords the Government appears inclined to create a scheme for asbestos victims. Such a scheme would not identify liability and the most severe cases would not receive adequate recompense.

In an attempt to place further pressure on the Government to overturn the Law Lords ruling, UCATT have decided to campaign in the seats of Cabinet Ministers where there is a high level of asbestos illness. On August 29, UCATT will be targeting the seats of Jack Straw and also the Leeds Central constituency of environment secretary Hilary Benn.

As the Justice Secretary Jack Straw is the key minister in the pleural plaque campaign. The Justice Department issued the consultation document on pleural plaques and it will be primarily Mr Straw’s decision if the Government does decide to overturn the Law Lords decision.

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: “After a highly extensive campaign the Government is at last seriously examining this issue. It would be unfair and intolerable if pleural plaques victims north of the border received compensation, while those in England did not.”

Last year over 2,000 people died of mesothelioma the figure is set to increase further in future.

For Further information contact Jim Kennedy on 07894 414606 or Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235.

 

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Asbestos Activists Take Campaign To Cabinet Ministers’ Constituencies

Tomorrow (July 18) members of construction union UCATT and other asbestos activists will take their campaign for justice for pleural plaque sufferers directly to the seats of two prominent Cabinet ministers.

The two constituencies being targeted are the Barrow-in-Furness seat of Business Secretary John Hutton, which has the highest rate of asbestos deaths in England and the South Shields constituency of Foreign Secretary David Miliband, which has the fourth highest number of asbestos related deaths in the United Kingdom.

The campaigners are disappointed that a recently published consultation paper on pleural plaques has said that the Government “is not minded” to overturn a Law Lords decision last October to deny pleural plaques victims compensation for their injuries.

UCATT campaigners will be in:

KING STREET

SOUTH SHIELDS

FROM 9.30am to 12pm

A separate group of UCATT activists will congregate in:

SPIRIT OF BARROW STATUE

DALTON ROAD

BARROW

11.45 onwards

Pleural plaques are scarring of the lung caused by heavy and prolonged exposure to asbestos. The scars become visible on x rays following calcification. Pleural plaques cause limited physical symptoms, however victims suffer severe mental distress. Pleural plaques sufferers have a greatly increased chance of contracting the incurable lung disease mesothelioma.

Compensation for pleural plaques is a relatively low financial amount. However if a pleural plaque victim then develops the fatal lung cancer mesothelioma, the relevant insurers will have already been identified, meaning that compensation will be paid in a victim’s lifetime. If the insurers have not already been identified this is unlikely to occur.

Last October the Law Lords overturned over 20 years of common law and ruled that pleural plaques should no longer be a compensational illness. Their decision is understood to be worth £1.4 billion to the insurance industry.

Since that judgement asbestos campaigners led by UCATT have been attempting to get the Government to overturn the House of Lords decision. UCATT organised a highly successful postcard campaign, with thousands of people writing to the Ministry of Justice to get the ban overturned.

Last Wednesday (July 9) the Government released a consultation document on pleural plaques. While UCATT was pleased that the Government was actively considering the issue, they were disappointed that the document says the “Government is not minded” to overturn the Law Lords decision. This potentially places the Government at odds with the Scottish Parliament, who have already brought forward a Bill to overturn the Law Lords judgement. UCATT fears that a postcode lottery could be created with pleural plaque victims in Scotland receiving full compensation, while those in England are given less recompense.

Rather than overturn the Law Lords the Government appears inclined to create a scheme for asbestos victims. Such a scheme would not identify liability and the most severe cases would not receive adequate recompense.

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: “While I welcome that the Government is seriously examining this issue, it would be unfair and intolerable if pleural plaque victims north of the border received compensation, while those in England did not.”

The demonstrations in the Cabinet minister’s home constituencies, is likely to be just the first part of the union’s campaign to get the law Lords decision overturned in England and Wales. The seats of other Cabinet ministers are expected to be targeted before the consultation ends in October.

Last year other 2,000 people died of mesothelioma the figure is set to increase further in future.

For Further information on the South Shields activity contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235 or John Scott  or 0789 4414615

Or for Barrow contact Jim Kennedy on 07894414606 or George Guy or 0789 4414625

Activists will be available for interview and photocall

 

Print

Asbestos Activists Take Campaign To John Hutton’s Constituency

Members of construction union UCATT will this week extend their campaign to win justice for victims of pleural plaques by campaigning in the Barrow-in-Furness constituency of business secretary John Hutton .

Barrow has the highest number of asbestos deaths in the United Kingdom. Many deaths were traditionally associated with shipbuilding and other heavy industries. Construction workers are now at greatest risk from asbestos, due to the material’s heavy usage in buildings.

UCATT campaigners will be at:

SPIRIT OF BARROW STATUE

DALTON ROAD

BARROW

11.45 onwards

Pleural plaques are scarring of the lung caused by heavy and prolonged exposure to asbestos. The scars become visible on x rays following calcification. Pleural plaques cause limited physical symptoms, however victims suffer severe mental distress. Pleural plaques sufferers have a greatly increased chance of contracting the incurable lung disease mesothelioma.

Compensation for pleural plaques is a relatively low financial amount. However if a pleural plaque victim then develops the fatal lung cancer mesothelioma, the relevant insurers will have already been identified, meaning that compensation will be paid in a victim’s lifetime. If the insurers have not already been identified this is unlikely to occur.

Last October the Law Lords overturned over 20 years of common law and ruled that pleural plaques should no longer be a compensational illness. Their decision is understood to be worth £1.4 billion to the insurance industry.

Since that judgement asbestos campaigners led by UCATT have been attempting to get the Government to overturn the House of Lords decision. UCATT organised a highly successful postcard campaign, with thousands of people writing to the Ministry of Justice to get the ban overturned.

Last Wednesday (July 9) the Government released a consultation document on pleural plaques. While UCATT was pleased that the Government was actively considering the issue, they were disappointed that the document says the “Government is not minded” to overturn the Law Lords decision. This potentially places the Government at odds with the Scottish Parliament, who have already brought forward a Bill to overturn the Law Lords judgement. UCATT fears that a postcode lottery could be created with pleural plaque victims in Scotland receiving full compensation, while those in England are given less recompense.

Rather than overturn the Law Lords the Government appears inclined to create a scheme for asbestos victims. Such a scheme would not identify liability and the most severe cases would not receive adequate recompense.

In an attempt to place further pressure on the Government to overturn the Law Lords ruling, UCATT have decided to campaign in the seats of Cabinet Ministers where there is a high level of asbestos illness. On July 18 UCATT will be targeting the seats of John Hutton and also the South Shields constituency of foreign secretary David Miliband.

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: “While I welcome that the Government is seriously examining this issue, it would be unfair and intolerable if pleural plaque victims north of the border received compensation, while those in England did not.”

Last year other 2,000 people died of mesothelioma the figure is set to increase further in future.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235 or Jim Kennedy on 07894414606.