OTTAWA - High levels of asbestos fibres in the air handling systems of the Wellington Building and in the West Block of the Parliament Buildings are placing the workers’ health and safety in jeopardy, says the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) who represent some 400 workers at these sites.

"We are demanding that these workplaces be closed down immediately and the workers relocated until this situation is cleared up," says John Baglow, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President. "We have been dealing with this situation since the 1980s and are not prepared to sit back and let it continue any longer," he adds.

"In addition, it is absolutely imperative that the federal government hire a third-party environmental consultant to test the work areas," says Dave Batho, president of CEP Local 102-0. "We are also calling on the federal government to work with the unions to develop a screening and medical surveillance program for those workers who have been exposed to the deadly fibres," continues Batho.

Recent results prepared by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) have revealed the presence of high levels of asbestos fibres in areas where these workers spend much of their workday. "At least one CEP member has already been clinically diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease that may be linked to work on Parliament Hill," adds Batho.

This is not the first study confirming the presence of asbestos on the Hill. In 1988 a West Block Asbestos Survey made recommendations to correct the situation. In 1990, a report obtained by Greenpeace showed asbestos was present in ventilation ducts. However, despite repeated assurances by the employer that the Wellington Building is safe, clearly the problem continues to exist. Symptoms of asbestos exposure, such as lung cancer, can take more than 10 years to appear in a worker.

Baglow says the PSAC will, once again, put pressure on the government to proclaim Part III of the Parliament Employment Staff Relations Act (PESRA) which would give these workers the right to refuse to work in unsafe and unhealthy conditions. "This legislation has been passed in the House but has never been proclaimed," he says. "Enough is enough. These workers deserve the same rights as all other federal workers."

The unions are also reminding the newly-elected Parliament that they too will be exposed to this dangerous workplace. "Anyone frequenting these buildings is likely breathing in dangerous levels of asbestos. Although we have been demanding that the federal government take immediate action to close down these work areas it has been to no avail."

"We do not accept the employer’s assurances that the asbestos is not harmful unless disturbed," continues Batho, noting that most of the testing was done late at night when the ventilation system was shut down and when few workers were present. "To us, there is no such thing as an acceptable minimum level of exposure to asbestos."

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For information:
Bob Huget, CEP National Rep for Health and Safety Issues, Ontario Region
(613) 230-5200 Ext. 250

John Baglow, PSAC REVP (613) 560-4380

62-301100