Document 8OeRQg1e6N7jQpE0mdwNDJ29B

^^WrowPcty the SL George Statidu^y way wffitrewlind eot If the TTC of the University line. Johns-Manville plant [\, 11 i Fear of asbestosis Ii triggers union strike * H The laternetionel Chemical In tbe post fow years a new Workers Union charged yes wave of research into asbes terday that asbestos fibres in tos hazards has raised alarm the air at the Toronto plant of among some experts. the Canadian Johns-Manville Dr. Irving Selikoff. director Co. Ud. threaten the lives of of the environmental health workers and the health of laboratory at Mount Sinai neighboring residents. Hospital in New York, a A strike by the onion's Lo cal 344 has closed the plant since Sunday, with health as the main ****** . "We -behove tbMOntario) Government should order the plant ctoed and not permit it to open until workers can be ` assured of a safe environ ment," Robert Stewart, assist ant Canadian director of the onion, said. leader in the field, suggests asbestos may be the worst air pollutant. This has been scoffed at by tbe asbestos in dustry. For the union members, Mr. Stewart said. Dr. Seli* koff'a findings have been brightening. He-come to TO ranto late in Msy in hopes at doing air tests in the local plant but wa barred by the management. Mr. Stewart There is also concern about said. tbe effects of plant omissions Only'latelyhave health prob on neighbors. A subdivision of lems been found among the 940.000 homes has sprung up Johns-Manville workers. Dr. near the site on Colonel Dan- forth Trail in eastern Scarbor ough, and the new Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate Institute is Selikoff's theory is that the damage is cumulative and rarely afaows up in leu than 30 years. The Toronto plant across tbe rosd. opened 23 years ago. in IMS. The union maintains that at least three workers have died of asbestosis. a lung disease roused by long-term inhala tion of asbestos fibres. Five of it* retired members and six still working otao have tbe disease "These are the ones who came forward themselves--the company wun't leil us all they now.' Mr. Stewart said. "They say medical rrports areconfiden "Now we're getting It in tha long-time workers," Mr. Stew art said. On Ms May visit Dr. Seli koff left a tape-recorded dis cussion which dearly has frightened the workers, the union leader seid. There have been no resignations is a re sult, "but a lot are saying they wished they never started their jobs." Hal." la tbe recording Dr. Selikoff Union leaders were speak- describes n study of 632 mem at a press conference bers of s New York insulation aed to express their frus workers. union who handled tration abrot the lack of ac- Mbaatna steadily tram 1943. By 1963--20 years later--244 provincial Government. At Queen's Park, James McNair, director of the De had died. 33 more than statis tically expected. Lung cancer Suited <5: sta partment of Labor's industrial tistically its expected toll was safety braa-:b. said the results 6.6. Cancer oi the stomach of tests made In May at and colon killed 29 rather Johns-Manville will be known than the expected 9 or to. "very shortly." His branch Lung scarring killed It where asked the Health Department no oraths were expected. for tests following complaints By 1967. when 47 deaths from the union, he said. might have been predicted, 94r Provtr.efal standards call oi the 632 men were dead. for no more than five asbestos, "Now 1 ot 4 men dies of fibres longer than five mi lung cancer--a disaster--1 of crons m a cubic centimetre of 10 of asbestosis. 1 m 10 of me- air. A micron is l-24.000th of Mrthriioma <* disease af the lung or"sffitfaefTCmrig)." Dr. Selikoff now ia studying death rates of asbestos work ers across the United States. He was kinder to Johns- Manville than the Toronto un ion spokesmen. "Johns-Manville may honestly feel there is no problem at tha (To ronto) plant because they have seen no problem until now. And it s because of this weird 20-year rule. The first people to work in tbe plant will just be beginning to show dittisei bow.** Mr. Stewart said: "It's un fettered industrial homicide as far aa we're concerned." He said tbe system that fil ters fibres from tha air in tha plant is overloaded by SO per cent, even on present stand ards. Dr. Selikoff is question ing these standards. He is concerned about tbe effects of fibres too small to be seen in an optical micro scope, visible only through an electrical microscope. The company has monitor ing equipment in the plant but will not tell the union the last results, Mr. Stewart said, la bargaining, tbe union is ask ing far daily air testa and fall access to tbe results. Johns-Manville uses aihee tos--a white, grey or grey- green fibrous material-- mainly with cement in Tranxite pipe. This is used exten sively in municipal water and sewage services. The Toronto plant employs 427 members of the chemical workers union plus about 190 others. The union calls wages a secondary issue in the strike. It is asking (or a Sl-an-hour raise over two years on a cur rent average rate of 13.03. Ne gotiations have broken off, with no new talks in sight. no i ta.4* P.1 to** cot s& too* Rod what More iaolat ton i penit ever Me r cellb _ curij priac of i -. CO o cn cn cn co DOW 05690