The BWI is asking all unions:
to sign up to the attached statement here and let us know you have done so.
to contact Labour Ministry to ask them to support the recommendations we make in our Joint Paper.
to find out what position your country will take and let us know.
What would also be very helpful would be to give the Joint Paper you can find HERE to the delegates from your countries who will be attending COP4. HERE is the RC website where you can find out who is the Official Contact Point for your country for COP4
The BWI wants chrysotile asbestos included in the Rotterdam Convention, which requires exporting countries to provide information to importing countries on the dangers of using this deadly material.
The ILO and WHO policy is very strong and clear - the goal is to eliminate the use of asbestos in all member states and to prevent asbestos related diseases, currently causing at least 100,000 deaths every year.
The Rotterdam Convention does not go nearly so far in its objectives - it is not a prohibition on trading deadly materials, such as chrysotile. It is essentially a simple right to know mechanism for export and import of the most hazardous substances. Applying the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedures to chrysotile would provide potentially life saving advice on hazards and how best to control them.
The problem is that Canada and other exporting countries have used the right of veto to exclude chrysotile from the Convention. Of course the commercial interests of the Canadian government are well known, they are determined to protect their asbestos export market at all costs. The UN is well aware of this, so it is surprising that, after this same scenario occurred at the 2004 and 2006 meetings, that steps were not taken to ensure that the terms of the treaty is respected.
It is vitally important that our unions contact their government representatives to encourage them to vote for the inclusion of chrysotile asbestos in the Convention at this COP4 meeting.
"Chrysotile meets all the criteria for inclusion," says Anita Normark, BWI General Secretary "so it is quite outrageous that this is being blatantly and persistently blocked by Canada, and other exporting countries. We need all governments to push the exporting nations to behave responsibly.”
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