Document zQMaQNqBgGJdnK2JxjBxbbxgg

FILE NAME: Calaveras (CALV) DATE: 1981 Dec 15 DOC#: CALV002 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Trade Union Publication International Federation of Chemical, Energy and General Werkers' Unions Fdration Internationale des Syndicats de Travailleurs de la Chimie, de l'Energie et des Industries Diverses Internationale Fderation von Chemie-, Energie- und Febrikarbeiterverbnden Internationella Kemi-, Energi- och Fabriksarhetarfederationen Federacin Internacional de Sindicatos de Trabajadores de la Qumica, de la Energa e Industrias Diversas Secretary G eneral: Charles Levinson President: Kar! Hausnschild C ir c u la r L e t te r No. 88/81 TO ALL ICEF AFFILLIATEO AND ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS AND MEMBERS,OF THE ETERNIT WORLD COUNCIL Geneva, 15th O cto ber, I S 81 Osar C olleagues; ETERNIT BEGINS RETREAT FR The a sb e sto s cement m enufactoring group, E te r n it, has J u s t announced th s c lo s u r e o f th ree a sb e sto s mines in Zimbabwe and th e s a l e o f i t s sub s id ia r y a sb e sto s mining company, A sb estos Investment L im ited, in South A fr ic a . These moves c le a r ly sig n a l thB company's in te n tio n to phase out i t s depend- W ency on a s b e s to s in i t s v a rio u s p ro d u cts a s s u b s t it u t e m a t e r ia ls become : a v a ila b le . r n lm They a ls o v in d ic a te th e ICEF' s p o sitio n in regard to E t e r n it 's o p e ra ' tsions in p a r t ic u l a r and th e u se o f a s b e s t o s in g e n e r a l. f 1% : ........... ... . .ty . R e p r e s e n ta tiv e s o f th e ICQ1 Permanent World C oun cil f o r E t e r n it met w ith i n t e r n a tio n a l management o f th e carp any in Ju ly 1976. As a r e s u l t o f d is c u s s io n s a t t h a t t i n , th e ICEF e x p re sse d i t s op in ion t h a t E t e r n it and o th er lead in g m u ltin atio n al companies m snufaeturing a sb e sto s p rod ucts were w ell aware o f the dan gers to workers from a sb e sto s, but were sirrply p lay in g f o r tim e in f i g h t in g tr a d e union r e p r e s e n ta tio n s on th e q u e stio n , te a h w h ils, a s th e l a t e s t ev en ts prove, these companies ware v igo ro u sly seek in g means t o move away fro m a s b e s t o s by d ev elop in g s u b s t i t u t e s . E t e r n i t 's d e c is io n c l e a r l y in d ic a t e s t h a t th e company hae now dev eloped a l t e r n a t iv e s , even though i t co n tin u es to o p e rate f a c i l i t i e s i n I t a l y andCanada and t o r e c e iv e a p o rtio n o f i t s raw a s b e s to s from th e USSR. The com pany h as continued t o adopt th e common lin e o f oth er a s b e s t o s m a n u fa c tu re rs. an s ' - , ' ` - ' . ' - c o P V M fiH T * RPRqeueON W L ^ T E S mtY, v ' 1- :: . S \ V - . ' . ' v . 3 : ;- . r v - V S S there fluid be the danger of simply substitutinp a wall known hazard by a iasa yell-definae nos, which may repeat the irafir, pattern of asbestos as the industry continues to modify i t s oroducSifle tschniqtm as l i t t l e awl es chsaoly as^posaibls- the/present move by Eter s i t i s further evidence. Of the need fen* negotiations ta tea caened at intarnational she local levels to discuss the future of the industry and of i t s workfor In a plfltsneas end responsible Yours fraternally ui\Vr*ft* ripsHv * i 'f - 4 V ; $ p ? h | &%i<VA';r *!.:* K S ^ 'i irSbi-4'