President Bush missed an opportunity today to show genuine compassion for the victims of asbestos disease and support for responsible relief for businesses struggling with asbestos claims by failing to endorse the creation of a national asbestos victims trust fund.  Contrary to comments at today’s White House event, the crisis we are facing is not just a litigation crisis, it’s a disease crisis. For the last several decades we have seen the toll of workers and family members disabled and killed by asbestos disease mount to staggering levels, the result of the willful practices of manufacturers and employers who withheld information about the hazards of asbestos and did little or nothing to control exposures.

Recent statements from a number of prominent business leaders withdrawing their support for creation of a victims’ trust fund represent a serious setback for those who suffer from asbestos disease and for the companies that truly want a fair solution to the crisis.  Apparently these business leaders read the results of the November election as license to ignore the plight of asbestos victims and the responsible efforts of a number of other companies to join in the creation of a national trust fund to guarantee asbestos victims fair compensation for their tragic circumstances. 

Senator Arlen Specter has led the various stakeholders involved in the asbestos litigation crisis through careful and delicate negotiations.  He and Judge Edward Becker have spent countless hours in individual and group meetings.  They have approached these discussions without preconditions and have been exceedingly patient, yet determined to hammer out a compromise bill. 

Throughout these deliberations, the AFL-CIO has consistently maintained that an adequately funded no fault system was the best way to make sure that asbestos victims would be fairly compensated.  And while we have argued that the funding requirements should be dictated by experts’ projections and actual claims experience, we have been flexible in negotiations concerning the total amount and timing of these contributions.

The victims of asbestos disease deserve the same commitment from both the President and corporate leaders, many of who are now making demands that will make it impossible to reach agreement on a compromise bill.

Contact:  Suzanne Ffolkes 202-637-5018