Asbestos Awareness Seminar Tuesday 20th March 2012

Asbestos Support West Midlands is hosting a free seminar for trade union officers and health and safety representatives on the 20th March 2012.  It will be held in the PCS office at New Oxford House, 16 Waterloo Street, Birmingham, B2 5UG between 11.00am and 2.30pm. Lunch will be provided. 

There will be two presentations:

1.         Asbestos in Schools and the Danger of Low Level Exposure

Julie Winn, Chair of the Joint Union Asbestos Committee

2.         Asbestos Today - Challenging Issues, Challenging Locations

Dr Helen Clayson, Researcher and Chair of BARDS (Barrow Asbestos-Related Disease Support).

As you will know the danger posed by low level exposure to asbestos is a matter of growing concern. Julie Winn’s presentation will examine the current regulatory framework and the campaign to protect education workers and students in particular. Julie is the Chair of the JUAC which comprises representatives from the ASCL, ATL, NASUWT, NAHT, NUT, Voice, UNISON, Unite the Union, UCATT and the GMB.

The second presentation, from Dr Helen Clayson, a researcher currently involved with the World Health Organisation, will examine the disastrous health consequences of this deadly trade and how an international ban could be achieved.

If you would like to attend this seminar just email us at Asbestos Info asbestosinfo@wmht.co.uk. Please note that this seminar is free but places are limited.

Asbestos Support West Midlands
138 Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 6DR
Telephone: 0121 678 8883
Mobile: 0791 943 0059

Asbestos Support WM- A Project of the West Midlands Hazards Trust (Registered Charity 1125322)
Helping to end the misery of asbestos related diseases

Government should cut tax reliefs for the super-rich, not their tax rate

Responding to a letter to the Daily Telegraph today (Thursday) calling on the Chancellor to scrap the 50p tax rate in the Budget, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

"It's not surprising to learn that rich people want to pay less tax. What is worrying is that many in government are encouraging them to confuse their own interests with those of the country as a whole.

"The Chancellor will probably reject their special pleading in this year's budget, but it is clear that his long-term priority is cutting tax for the rich rather than restoring the services he has cut or investing in jobs for the young unemployed.

"Any Chancellor who really thinks we should all be in this together should start by cracking down on the tax dodges used by big companies and the super-rich to avoid paying their fair share of tax.

"Next he should ask them to pay a fairer share in putting right the economic mess caused by the banking crash. This should include ending tax breaks for boardroom size pensions and closing the loopholes that allow pay that should face income tax to be turned into low-tax capital gains or profits from one person companies."