25 February, 2009The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union renewed the IMF's campaign for a global ban on asbestos at the opening of a new Asbestos Disease and Research Institute.
AUSTRALIA: The world's first dedicated asbestos research centre is named after long-time anti-asbestos campaigner Bernie Banton, who succumbed to mesothelioma in late 2007.
Mr Banton was a key advocate for workers in the fight waged by unions against the James Hardie company, which attempted to avoid its legal and moral responsibilities to asbestos sufferers by deliberately moving assets worth US$1.3 billion from Australia to the Netherlands and out of legal reach from claims for compensation.
After a six year battle, James Hardie shareholders approved a $4 billion compensation deal in February 2007.
AMWU National President Julius Roe said the role of the new centre needed to extend beyond Australia.
"The opening of this centre is a victory for IMF Affiliates and other unions in our campaign for a global ban on asbestos.
"Unfortunately, workers all over the world continue to be exposed to asbestos every day.
"Despite a national ban and estimates that that over 50,000 Australians will contract asbestos-related disease by the year 2020, the Australian Defence Force continues to use the deadly substance.
"There is no ban at all across most of Asia and producers in Canada and Russia are pushing for greater use of asbestos.
"The AMWU want to work with other IMF Affiliates to ensure the work of the Bernie Banton Centre is of benefit for all workers in our region."
The AMWU will attend the Asian Asbestos Congress in Hong Kong in April and call for the establishment of an Asian Network of clinicians, researchers, unions and victim support groups to promote research, prevention and treatment of asbestos related diseases.