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Union Bricklayers to Picket Valero Refinery
Union bricklayers representing the northern 46 counties in California will be picketing Diamond Refractory Services at the Valero refinery on October 8, 2004 at 5:00 am, and possibly again on October 22, 2204, to express their concerns that Diamond Refractory Services does not meet area wage and benefit standards. The Valero refinery in Benicia is located in an area between East 2nd street and Bayshore road near the Interstate 780 and 680 interchange.
(PRWEB) October 9, 2004 -- Diamond Refractory Services is a Texas based refractory contractor operating under the license of Altair Strickland. Diamond Refractory does not possess a valid C-29 license as required by the State of California to perform this work. Diamond is, instead, working as a subcontractor under and "A" engineering license held by Altair Strickland. Altair Strickland is also based in Texas. There are highly qualified, properly licensed, local based contractors capable of performing this work. Additionally, hundreds (800 estimated) of workers from other states have recently taken classes from the Bay Area Training Corporation (BATC), which is a requirement to work in the refineries in the San Francisco Bay Area.
It seems Diamond Refractory Services and Altair Strickland have visions of obtaining more work in this area utilizing out of state contractors and displacing the citizens and businesses that support our communities. Money paid to out of state contractors will most undoubtedly be sent out of state. It is estimated the amount of work to be performed will require approximately 20,000 hours of labor or $1.2 million in compensation to Diamond Refractory workers. This disregard for the community seems to contradict the Valero “Good Neighbor Agreement” and creates an environment that will exploit the standards of wages and benefits of the people that live in the community.
Union bricklayers will also conduct another job action on October 22, 2004 if the issue of area standards cannot be resolved.
Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers represent represents Bricklayers/Stonemasons, Tile Layers and Finishers, Pointer Cleaner Caulkers, Marble Setters and Finishers, Terrazzo Mechanics and Finishers, and Refractory Bricklayers who work various aspects of the industry in the Northern 46 counties of California. Refractory Bricklayers line the boilers, benzene tanks, acid tanks, and catalytic crackers.
This is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world and poses the greatest health risk to Refractory Bricklayers. We work in one of the most carcinogenic environments in the world. We were recently tested for silicosis and asbestos, and many of our members have tested positive for early stages. We are proud of the work we do and have no complaints. We are hard working and diligent in our craft.
People with Silicosis on the rise
03/23/2005
Quang Ninh (VNA) - Since 1976, Viet Nam has so far detected and monitored 21,000 people with lungs affected by silicon dust, reported a seminar held in Quang Ninh province on Mar. 22.
The seminar, held by the Preventive Medicine and HIV/AIDS Control Department and the Institute of Labour Medicine and Environmental Hygiene of the Health Ministry, said that in 2004 alone, 16,439 people with Silicosis were given treatment, a year-on-year decrease of 30 percent, while the number of people with the disease increased by 99 percent.
Mining Quang Ninh province, one of the six target localities, has the highest rate of workers being affected by the dust (41 percent).
To raise people's awareness about Silicosis, information centres were set up and distributed 500 posters and 1,000 leaflets in high risk areas sofar. Training courses on labour safety and hygiene were organised for more than 2,100 managers, medical staff and workers.
Besides compensation for patients of this occupational disease, Viet Nam also increased its cooperation with the International Labour Organisation, World Health Organisation and Washington University (USA) in dealing with Silicosis, completed the national programme on prevention and treatment, and expanded environmental supervision.-Enditem
Mining Cripples and Illegal Miners Resist Relocation
Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)
Andy Milne
Prestea - July 5, 2005 - Prestea mining operations are slowly killing, crippling and maiming the town's inhabitants. An exclusive Chronicle investigation can reveal the detrimental effects of both illegal 'galamsey' mining and the operations of Bogoso Gold Limited (BGL).
The Prestea Mining Group [PMG], who nominally control the illegal mining operation, have rejected also the Ministry of Lands, Forests and Mines' 'Prestea Action Plan' for their relocation. They believe the Mineral Commission should legalize their activities in Prestea under a 'Medium Scale Community Mining' initiative.
Dr Kennedy Azantilou, the Senior Medical Officer at Prestea Hospital, outlined the effects of mining activities in the vicinity of Prestea. His gravest concern was over the Prestea Mining Group's unsafe use of Mercury.
At a 'galamsey' site in the village of Bondai, neighbours of Prestea, the Chronicle saw large pools of Mercury lying untended. The lethal chemical, which vaporises and then solidifies in the lungs of unprotected individuals, is being handled in ignorance by galamsey operators as young as 14 years old. Steven, a 15 year old miner at the Bondai site, told The Chronicle that he had been mining for one year.
Dr Azantilou revealed also the effects of surface mining, which BGL perform at a site approximately one kilometer from Prestea: "The increased dust resulting from surface mining this close to the community, results in respiratory infections, coughs, asthma, tuberculosis, silicosis etcetera."
Due to lack of resources, Dr Azantilou could not provide statistics on the number of casualties received at the Prestea Hospital. However, he confirmed that the hospital regularly handled many cases of asthma, tuberculosis and silicosis.
He added, "The cases of Asthma, Tuberculosis and Silicosis could be on the increase but I don't have the exact numbers to be precise."
The Chronicle spoke to John, an 18-year old orphan from Prestea. He is unable to play for his football team or undertake physical work as he has started to suffer from pressure in his chest; a symptom of Asthma, Tuberculosis and Silicosis.
John begs, and works as a caddy at the BGL golf club, in an attempt to fund his younger brother's education. John has lived near the Prestea mines all his life.
Dr Azantilou told The Chronicle that there was a strong case for relocation: either of the town or mining operations. This course of action has been rejected by the Environmental Protection Agency. He stated that it would be of great benefit to the health of the community.
With reference to the demonstrations of June 15th that resulted in seven gunshot wounds, he said: "I don't really think the people can complain for no reason. If they can be relocated, then why not? Government is about making people's lives better, the people of Prestea are complaining that the mining is too close. If there are difficulties, then both the people and the miners must sit down and negotiate a deal."
Dr Azantilou raised a final concern over the safety standards of the PMG. It is estimated by the Prestea Information Centre that 'galamsey' operators form roughly seventy percent of mine workers in Prestea.
They work in deep mine shafts constructed with minimal equipment and have little technical knowledge.
Most 'galamsey' operators are mine workers who had been laid off from other mining operations and operate a shift system 24 hours a day.
Dr Azantilou confirmed that the Hospital handles a large number of 'galamsey' casualties: "We are getting a lot of injuries, even deaths: sometimes pits collapse on them. We get fractures, crushing injuries and besides that, we get respiratory tract infections from the 'galamsey'. They are even more at risk because they wear no masks.
Also, with their social life, we see a lot of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV."
John Aflamo, the safety manager of PMG shared the Doctor's concern over safety and appealed for technical assistance for their illegal operation. The Chronicle has seen PMG schematics detailing basic safety improvements to be made should resources become available.
Mr Aflamo's schematics also include a geographical survey of the area and a plan for 'Medium Scale Community mining'. Through Medium Scale Community mining, the PMG proposes to pay taxes and operate as a legitimate mining enterprise, one that operates on what little resources they can gather.
The documents are not professional products but have been created with the benefit of his thirty years of mining experience, with input from the 'galamsey' operators.
The PMG executive committee is resolute that they cannot move their operations from Prestea, as the government has ordered. They cite the uncertain fate of the community that approximately 4, 000 'galamsey' workers sustain. PMG also claims they were mining Prestea before the BGL concession was granted. Emmanuel Quarm, Vice Chairman of PMG, told The Chronicle: "When the workers are here, they buy from the inhabitants going about their daily activities and the money in turn gets back to the community. But if we go and move the distances they are talking about, for example to Winneba, we are collapsing Prestea.
"We are settlers on Prestea and we think that this is something good. We want government to make it ['galamsey'] legal, there should be a second look at moving us from here."
Mr. Quarm went on to suggest that BGL should grant PMG a concession: "We want them to come and tell us that, 'we can't displace you because you need it, so for the time being, we are giving you about four miles to carry out your duties.'"
The Ministry of Lands of Forests and Mines, 'Prestea Action Plan' states that as of 31st May 2005, illegal mining is to have ceased in the area. A press release stated that Ghanaian security forces were to close any remaining 'galamsey' operations. The Chronicle can confirm however that illegal mining operations are still taking place.
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