UK union ensures that mesothelioma victims’ claims will be honored

Jul 28, 2009

Asbestos victims that had claimed compensation from Turner & Newall (T&N), the UK’s largest asbestos company, have been exempted from certain provisions of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997. Asbestos claimants had ended up receiving as little as 17% of the compensation they were entitled to following the Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan of Federal Mogul, the new owner of T&N. Even with the addition of state payments under the Pneumoconiosis 1979 Act, these claimants did not receive nearly what they were entitled to.

Unite the Union brought to the attention of the British government a legislative issue that resulted in unfair penalties for T&N asbestos victims, many of whom were mesothelioma patients. As a result of Unite’s efforts, an exemption was reinstated for T&N claims from the Government’s Compensation Recovery Unit.

The Unite Joint General Secretary stated that the penalties against T&N claimants would have gone unchecked without Unite’s intervention. He hopes that the exemption will help mesothelioma sufferers and their families.

For the full story, go to Politics.co.uk.

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