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COMPANY CONFIDENTIAL To: J. M. Black A. W. Clements C. B. Cooper P. H. Lawrence P. R. Schwaegerle R. N. Rylands A. R. Weber From: G. Pow Date: January 30, 1974 Subj ect: STATEMENT BY URW PRESIDENT, PETER BOMMARITO Following is the text of the statement Peter Bommarito made yesterday on an Akron television station: "Years ago during negotiations, many could not reconcile themselves or understand my concern about the health of the workers in our membership. My feelings were carried into the high echelons of negotiations which spearheaded our 1970 negotiated joint occupational health program to investigate the health conditions in our plants. As I look back, little did I realize the far reaching impact of health hazards on the working men and women. Unfolding, in the last few days, is a story that has made my worse suspicions a reality. A new cancer producing condition has been related to the manufacture and production of polyvinyl chloride, commonly known as PVC. A high incidence of a rare and deadly liver cancer was found in BFG's PVC plant in Louisville, Kentucky. Since 1968, four documented cases of liver cancer and related deaths have occurred in this Kentucky plant where workers could have a direct exposure to chemical agents used in the production of PVC. This cancer has previously never been related to polyvinyl manufacture. A specific agent, as yet, has not been identified but could be related to vinyl chloride or other chemicals used in the making of PVC resins. Although none of the BFG plants producing this material are organized by the URW, many other plants involved with PVC production do employ our members. The effect of this information could be world-wide. My initial approach to this situation will be to call on URW officials and companies involved with the production of PVC to meet with BFG and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health officials for a briefing of the problem. ^ /' VA !v o I. W BFG64938 As chairman of the Industrial Union Department's Health and Safety Committee I expect to set up a conference with the other International Union presidents whose members could also be involved, and our goal will be to establish an approach to study and evaluate the impact of this cancer on workers and to develop a policy related to worker protection. Our membership is immediately being informed of the potential hazard related to PVC handling and production and we will act in a fast responsible manner to avert a catastrophe in this modern industrial world." Managements of the non-union PVC plants should be particularly alert for any signs of organizing activities. URW could well use this as a reason for activating its organizing campaigns at one or more of our manufacturing or fabricating PVC plants. /ml o cc: G. H. Femwood D. R. Gray E. W. Harrington R. M. Kreager R. A. Krueger J. L. Nelson R. D. Scott A. Vittone B. M. Zwicker J. W. Reynolds H. C. Wardle George Pow tV BFG64939