Registry for Asbestos Mine Workers Established
The United Steelworkers (USW) Union of Canada has announced that the province of Newfoundland has established a much-needed registry that will track former workers at the now-defunct Baie Verte Asbestos Mine, helping the union identify those who may have developed asbestos-related diseases due to their work at the mine.
The announcement came earlier this week from the USW and the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (WHSCC) of Newfoundland and Labrador, notes a press release by the USW.
“This is a breakthrough agreement for the USW and workers everywhere and, with the critical information obtained through the registry, it will be a turning point for fair compensation for victims of occupational disease,” said USW Ontario/Atlantic Health, Safety and Environment Coordinator Nancy Hutchison. “We hope this announcement will set the pattern for other compensation boards and governments across Canada as we continue to strive for justice for workers and their survivors.”
The registry, which will be compiled by local Memorial University, will include such information as employment history, asbestos exposure information, and current health status. The goal is to locate all former mine workers (or their survivors) and encourage them to register, the press release explains.
The Baie Verte Asbestos Mine operated from 1963 to 1992 and employed approximately 3,000 miners and other employees during that time period. The union is aware that many of the workers have already died of asbestos-related diseases or are currently fighting illnesses such as asbestosis or mesothelioma.
“This agreement recognizes the long-term commitment of the USW to the Baie Verte miners and to the many health and safety activists across Newfoundland and Labrador, and in all of Canada who fought for this agreement,” said USW Staff Representative Boyd Bussey. “Steelworkers will continue to work with the WHSCC to see the results of the registry turned into fair compensation for the Baie Verte miners and their families.”
Canada has been under pressure from other countries throughout the world to cease the mining of asbestos. A few asbestos mines still remain in Quebec Province and administrators for those mines maintain that the type of asbestos being mined there – chrysotile or “white” asbestos – is safe.
