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Asbestos campaign launch in Barking and Dagenham

Jon Cruddas MP will launch UCATT postcard campaign to overturn the Law Lords decision to block compensation for victims of pleural plaques.

Mr Cruddas, UCATT activists and asbestos campaigners will launch the campaign in Barking.

The photo opportunity will be on:

MONDAY 10 MARCH

BARKING TOWN HALL

1 TOWN SQUARE

BARKING

IG11 7LU

MIDDAY 12pm

Mr Cruddas and Jerry Swain regional secretary for UCATT’s London and South East region, will be available for interview following the photocall.

Pleural plaques is scarring of the lungs caused by heavy and long term exposure to asbestos. Victims of pleural plaques have a greatly increased risk of contracting mesothelioma the fatal lung cancer.

Barking and Dagenham has one of the highest levels of asbestos victims in England. In particular the area has a very high level of female sufferers of asbestos related diseases. Asbestos diseases are more usually associated with male workers.

Pleural plaque victims can experience a number of debilitating mental and physical conditions caused by their injuries. One in seven of those diagnosed with pleural plaques will develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma kills 2,000 people a year. The number of people developing mesothelioma is set to increase in the future and is likely to peak in 2020 with 20,000 people dying from the disease. Last year 164 people died in the London region from mesothelioma.

Jerry Swain UCATT’s London and South East regional secretary, said: “The Law Lords decision was outrageous and is a total injustice. Thousands of workers have needlessly been exposed to asbestos by callous bosses, who did not care about their future welfare. These workers deserve compensation.”

In October last year the Law Lords ruled that pleural plaques would no longer be a compensatable illness. The decision has been widely criticised inside and outside Parliament. Campaigners have since been calling on Jack Straw the Secretary of State for Justice, to introduce fresh legislation, to overturn the Law Lords ruling. It is estimated the ruling will save insurance companies over £1 billion in compensation payments.

A copy of the postcard which can be sent directly to the Ministry of Justice calling for the Law Lords decision to be overturned is available for DOWNLOAD HERE.