Asbestos Campaign Launch in Newcastle

Stephen Hepburn MP and Dave Anderson MP will launch UCATT’s postcard campaign to overturn the Law Lords decision to block compensation for victims of pleural plaques.

Mr Hepburn, Mr Anderson, UCATT activists and asbestos campaigners will launch the campaign in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

The photo opportunity will be on:

MONDAY 17 MARCH

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE LAW COURTS

QUAYSIDE

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE

NE1 3LA

10AM

Mr Hepburn, Mr Anderson and John Scott regional secretary for UCATT’s Northern 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.

The North East Region has one of the highest levels of asbestos victims in England.

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 10,000 people dying from the disease. Last year 144 people died in the North East from mesothelioma.

John Scott UCATT’s Northern regional secretary, who is a pleural plaques sufferer, said: “The Law Lords decision was outrageous and is a total injustice. I like thousands of other workers have been needlessly exposed to asbestos. Employers cannot get away with playing fast and loose with workers lives.”

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 by clicking here.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235 or John Scott on 0789 4414615