![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.une-sen.org\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/asbestos.png\" "\\"asbestos\\"")
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Howard Willems was always an active person. That is until two years ago, when he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a form of cancer usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Sadly, Brother Willems passed away last week, with his family by his side.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a building inspector for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,\u201d said Audrey Berlovan, Willems\u2019 sister and a member of the Union of National Employees. Willems inspected a number of older food plants in Saskatchewan while they were under renovation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were full of asbestos,\u201d said Berlovan.<\/p>\n
Since being diagnosed, Willems had been urging the provincial government to create a registry of public buildings that contain asbestos. Recently, Saskatchewan\u2019s NDP introduced a bill that would do just that \u2013 and yesterday, the asbestos right-to-know bill passed the provincial legislature.<\/p>\n
Even last week, while in hospital, Willems was meeting with union members and his city councillor to make the registry a reality. \u201cEven the nurse said \u2018you\u2019re lying here, hardly able to breathe, and you\u2019re still concerned about other people\u2019s health and safety,\u2019\u201d said Berlovan.<\/p>\n
The Saskatchewan government says it\u2019s safe to assume that any building built before 1980 contains asbestos. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot more prevalent than people realize,\u201d said Berlovan.<\/p>\n
More work to do<\/strong><\/p>\n Berlovan wants union activists to make people aware \u2013 to bring the issue to their communities and cities. \u201cTalk to your city council. The Saskatchewan Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization website has templates for anyone who wants to start a campaign in their city or province. [Their volunteers are] more than willing to help.\u201d<\/p>\n Many UNE and PSAC members work in buildings that contain asbestos.<\/p>\n The World Health Organization estimates that more than 107,000 people die each year from asbestos-related diseases.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Howard Willems was always an active person. That is until two years ago, when he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a form of cancer usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Sadly, Brother Willems passed away last week, with his family by his side. \u201cHe was a building inspector for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,\u201d said Audrey … <\/p>\n