Unions seek pleural plaques reversal

Trade unionists and asbestos support groups lobbied the Houses of Parliament on 29 January in protest at last October’s ruling by the Law Lords to stop compensation payouts to sufferers from pleural plaques (see Labour Research, December 2007).

The GMB general union claims that 30% of its members diagnosed with pleural plaques go on to develop the incurable cancer mesothelioma.

The Scottish government has already promised to introduce legislation to reverse the Lords’ decision.