Posted on July 1, 2016
It was an honor to join more than 75 trade unionists, activists, Mesothelioma Warriors, and medical experts at the London Hazards Centre’s Action Mesothelioma Day, “Mesothelioma: The Silent Killer” conference on July 1 in London!
Speakers included Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress(TUC); Dr. Peter Szlosarek, consultant at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; Harminder Bains, partner and joint head of the asbestos and mesothelioma team at Leigh Day; Mavis Nye, mesothelioma victim; Tony Lennon, president of the Southern & Eastern Region of the Trades Union Congress(SERTUC); David Trigg, chair of Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team; Susan Murray, national health and safety adviser for Unite Here; Sarah Lyons, asbestos lead for the National Union of Teachers(NUT) and the Joint Union Asbestos Committee (JUAC); Phillip Lewis, acting chair of the Hazards Asbestos London Team (HALT); and Gill Reed, retired health and safety adviser from National Union of Teachers (NUT).
Photo Credit: Sean Breslin
Action Mesothelioma Day is important and meaningful every year, but this year there was an added level of magnitude with U.S. President Barak Obama signing The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act into law the week prior. This new law represents a very important and impactful victory, and it set a hopeful tone as we continued our advocacy in the U.K. and met with leading health and safety organizations to expand collaborative efforts.
It’s clear from the event’s turnout that the time for action is here. Let’s keep up the spirit of Action Mesothelioma Day as we continue to fight to end the asbestos man-made disaster with prevention and a cure!
Special thanks to Phil Lewis, the dedicated London Hazards Centre’s team, and sponsors who made this day possible.
Together, we are making change happen–all over the world.
Linda