Document k490rdeqENE34NQjBwqz4qen

rcuG4tMti imciu4uwitte uu aytiUiMU US UdVduteUU ue U wOiflMB Bl BBS UMUSITIM UIKBfSBS ' Fsderacion International de organizaciones sindicales de trabajadores de la quimica e induslrias diversas Internationale Foderalion von Cbemis- und Fahrikarbeilerverbanden International Fabrikarbejder-Fdderation % fiMMii: Quito* LVUISON 1 SR, n di MoiMutu P. 0. Box 2109 1211 flENtVA 19 ' firttaftend- - ' * ' Circular1Letter No. 66/74 Rot: No.: Oear Colleague: r' Pmidwl; Kgf HAOFWSOmO > < ' "J TO ALL ICF AFFILIATED'ANO'-^; : ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS *. . . ! If.;*.- I#* if : i t `7 .. i; /.^r i '^Geneva, 29th Hey, 1974 ,U fj r-. r-. . -o : .-j, V*.f ! k .: o V. t\* i -J it T~ ' ; ~ - -yv - -' ... (< 7~\ J uiU NOT COME FROM PPG FILES CANCER THREAT*'TO ASBESTOS-WORKERS'` r' . ' Asbestos has long been recognized as an exceedingly toxic"substance for workers handling it from the-`i-nitial stage of-mining-to its use as 'commercial'-and industrial material"for a variety-of industries,'--- * r.- Recently, the extent of the hazard has resulted in' demands'for absolute elimination of the asbestos exposure/`'given-that-there are vir tually no low. safe levels. Despite, this factr'certan>Intemational Agencies, which continue to demonstrate an anti-labour bias-ift1'their elitist cooperation with industry and moneyed Interests, are'.'hindering ''the establishment of most necessary and urgently needed safety "standards. ! 1 trv : i In regard to the PVC Campaign against angiosarcoma, a cancer of the liver'due to Vinyl Chloride, certain Trade Union'National 'Centeri have decided to raise this question with the International Agency fbr1 Re/search on Cancer in Lyon (France), which is an associated agency of the World Health Organization. ICF iar^aware of many occasions in which questions of close cooperation between this Agency and big business have arisen, whilst showing a remarkable disdain and disinterest in a similar cooper ation with organizations representing the trade unions. I We have written to the WHO asking for consultative status'.*.-'s6ch as _we have been accorded by ECOSOC. the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, in order to represent the interests of workers in matters of occupational health not only in the chemical and allied industries, but also in respect to the pharmaceutical industry with which the World. Health Organizations has Standing Committees. BB 0000653 It has new been confirmed that there are many thousands - perhaps v n millions - of workers who have been exposed to asbestos and who face an extraordinary high cancor risk. Many thousands will die after retire ment, for the cancer will manifest itself only many years after the initial exposure. The asbestos cancer threat is one which does not permit discus sions on reasonable standards, low risk levels, etc. Studies show that among groups of asbestos workers one in every five deaths is due to lung .1. 01 1301 cancer and one in fifteen deaths is due to mesothelioma, which is so rare in the population as a whole that it does not occur more than once in ten thousand deaths. Accepting "calculated" risks for economic reasons is no longer tolerable and we alert affiliates to Immediately seek total no-exposure levels-<or their members working with asbestos. In this connection, we would like to bring to .your attention the accompanying letter of Brother Tony Mazzocchi,' Dire'ctor, Citizenship-Legislative Department of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Uni on, of the U.S. and Canad.a, and a leading figure in the fight for a new policy in recard to health and safety matters on .the action of the IARC regarding asbestos workers. We have confirmed from impeccable medical sources and unquestionable authority that such criticism is entirely valid and we associate ourselves without qualification with its content. * , * * * We believe it is time that a deep-rootBd and widespread pro-industry elitist bias in the United Nations and-other International Agencies be contested. Even though increasingly big business and its associated -organizations are-subsidizing United Nations' programs, the bulk of the funds.comes fromtpublic sources - which means workaitsJ-.income taxes... The natural propensity of international civil servants-;and-. academics*-to cater to the elitist and bureaucratic power establishment, which exposes itself often as an implicit denigration of workers and trade union ca pacities, has contributed to a profound atrophy -of.U.N, programsrand *. policies.- We are convinced that a new. and more direct participation by ajr unions, as distinct from the past exclusive..representation through the highly centralized world organizations of national centers. CICFTil..WFTll, WCL,- etc.).is vital if a more dynamic, and effectual voice of labour is to make itself heard in the bureaucracies of the world today. The case of cancer threats .to asbestos workers is a critical case J.n point. ... ..... . ... Yours fraternally.* Enclosure Charles Levinson I BB 0000654 J m isn