Asbestos: go for zero !

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OVER the last few months a number of important development have given a major boost to the fight against asbestos.

In January the government published new safety levels for exposure, and new safety regulations come into force this month for the removal of asbestos. Spurred on by this, the Executive of UCATT has adopted a policy of zero exposure to all types of asbestos products.

However, the banning of new asbestos products is only a small, though very important, aspect of the problem. A bigger problem is the safe removal of asbestos in existing buildings.

In the London borough of Haringey, the Labour council, like many others, has become aware of the asbestos problem, and is moving towards a policy of the progressive removal of all asbestos. Major problems are posed by the sheer scope of the task, by lack of expertise, and by lack of money. Initial estimates indicate that it will take ten years to remove all asbestos from the borough.

The stewards in the Direct Labour Organisation (DLO) have stopped work in areas where members come in contact with asbestos, and are demanding that the council adopt a working practice which has been tried and tested over the last three years in Lambeth and is regarded as the safest procedure in the country. For the DLO, it is quite straightforward: either the council adopt this, or we will refuse to work with any asbestos when we come-across it in old buildings. Ranged against us are the council experts, the Health and Safety officers.

This local struggle in Haringey has wider implications. Between the government standards for asbestos removal and those in Lambeth, there can be a whole range of different practices, such as the one our safety officers are putting forward. If we succeed in adopting Lambeth standards, it will be a marker for other local authority workers to fight for. Tenants and council workers will have the maximum possible protection.

It will apply not only to work carried out by the DLO, but also to the bulk of the removal, which will be done by contractors. Many such firms are cowboys, and any lapse in council regulations will give them loopholes to cut corners to save money.

Asbestos removal is going to become big business. If DLO workers stick to our union policy, and don't let the experts lead us by the nose, then we will begin the job from a firm footing, and not have a running battle on safety over the next ten years.

And if councils adopt a policy with the maximum involvement of tenants and workers, it will give that much more weight to the necessary demand on the government for money to carry out the work.

0.. Itlail LIA In a completely unconnected announcement, the British government today said it had expelied .. 10,000 Soviet citizens for 'Activities Incompatible with their Status' • The government refused to name the people, three quarters of whom are understood to be women. They held British passports, until a late amendment to the Nationality Act was passed in 'an emergency session of Parliament last night, which made them honorary members of the Soviet Embassy.

The Soviet agents have been flown in the first instance to West Berlin, where they will be invited to 'escape' over the Wall. Foreign Secretary, Francis Pym, said:

I am not saying all these Peace People are Soviet Agents. I'm just saying that people who choose the change their nationality to Russian at this short notice are highly dubious.' Mrs. Thatcher fast night awarded the newly minted Peace Medal to Mr. Heseltine for 'Successfully pacitying a small, but deeply misguided sector of the community. • She made the award whilst speaking at the inaugural meeting of a new women's Peace Group, SWALK -Sensible Women Advocate Liquifying Kremlinites. "These are the real Peace People,' said Mrs. That-

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