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Directors Get Pay Rises Asbestos Victims Get Death
27 September 2006
Hardie Directors Feather Own Nest At Expense of Asbestos Victims
"It is immoral that the directors of James Hardie can award themselves $1.1 million (AUD) in pay rises, while asbestos sufferers die without compensation for their pain and suffering," CTU president Ross Wilson said today.
"Before the company goes about feathering the nest of its directors with increases of up to 130 per cent, it should urgently address compensation for workers who have suffered the painful and terminal effects of lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma through their exposure to asbestos related products."
"The CTU's asbestos campaign is calling for asbestos victims to get the same ACC lump sum compensation that injured workers can access, and asbestos product manufacturers like James Hardie and Fletchers to be levied for a special ACC fund."
"A special fund would require a law change. The CTU has put a proposal up to the Minister of ACC to establish the fund, and we are waiting for a response," Ross Wilson said.
"As a country we must ensure that we fairly compensate these victims of the negligence and willful disregard of available evidence of the lethal effect of asbestos exposure by these companies in New Zealand."
Further information about the CTU's campaign is here: http://union.org.nz/campaigns/asbestos.html
ENDS
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Te Kauae Kaimahi
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.
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