UNISON Cymru/Wales has become a campaign partner in the Asbestos – Your Right to Know campaign, which is calling for the creation of a central accessible register of asbestos in schools in Wales.
The issue of asbestos in Welsh schools, which will be raised twice this week in the National Assembly for Wales, is becoming increasingly important as more is understood about its effects.
Dominic MacAskill, UNISON Cymru/Wales head of local government, said: “UNISON is really pleased to be a part of the Your Right to Know campaign. We fully support the disclosure of information about asbestos in schools for parents, pupils, and the schools workforce.
‘Approximately 100 people die each year as a result of exposure to asbestos and that is 100 people too many. UNISON will continue to campaign for the rights of workers and the rights of our future generations to be safe in schools.
‘UNISON has an arrangement with our solicitors, Thompsons, to register members who believe that they have been exposed to asbestos and would have a legal claim if they developed a related illness.
‘We are in full support of steps being taken by the Welsh government to introduce an Asbestos Wales Bill to recoup the costs of asbestos related illness and death, but we are calling for the Welsh government to go one step further and make details of asbestos schools in Wales public.
‘We know the dangers associated with asbestos and we must do all we can to minimise those risks.’
