Correspondence with Paul Cooper of Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU) York. Includes an autopsy report and other medical information. Among topics covered are issues with York pathologists and coroners, and concerns over exposure to asbestos of British Rail passengers. Also a little correspondence re foundation of the York Asbestos Support Group in 2006. Papers include testimony by former British Rail coach builders and asbestos sprayers, and photocopies of confidential J W Roberts Ltd communications re fibre levels produced by the 'Limpet' asbestos cement spray process, 1962.
Paul Cooper long campaigned on behalf of former carriageworks employees who suffered from asbestos-related illnesses. He retired as secretary of the TGWU York branch c. 2010.
correspondence chiefly with John Todd re how he and his fellow laggers are affected by asbestos and re his awareness raising campaign; also with the TGWU, health and safety experts, the media
correspondence with Margaret Bain (MP East Dunbartonshire) and John Healey (of Leven, Fife)
photocopies of John Todd's correspondence with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), the environmental health department of the city of Glasgow, the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), various newspapers, and the TGWU
Successive versions of John Todd's compilation on asbestos victims from the Glasgow branch of the TGWU, 1975-1983, and correspondence with the victims 1967-1979.
Correspondence (mainly with the GMB health & environment section and regional health workers of the union), enquiries, press releases, research articles. Includes
copy of report of Tom Cox, UK Socialist Group (1998) ‘Dangers of asbestos for workers and the environment’, accepted by the Parliamentary Assembly in the Council of Europe; also set of amendments to the report
papers re cases of asbestos-related lung cancer in Northern Ireland
correspondence re John McClean (GMB Regional Health and Safety Officer) joining the OEDA Management Committee in 1995
Correspondence with GMBATU Health & Safety officers (in particular David Gee), and papers. Includes:
questionnaire for survey of health hazards and chemical substances in the food industry 1986
typescript summarising GMBATU's take on R Doll & J Peto (1985) ‘Asbestos: effects on health of exposure to asbestos - the risk of asbestos in buildings’ (Doll/Peto Report)
typescript summarising GMBATU's view of the consultative document (1985) ‘Control of asbestos at work: draft regulations and draft approved code of practice’
typescript article ‘How self-regulation fails to protect workers – the asbestos story’ (1984)
GMBATU (1984) ‘Progress report on fibrous dust campaign 1980-1984’
drafts of HSE leaflet on asbestos brake linings, 1984
draft GMBATU guide (1984) ‘The extent and characteristics of asbestos diseases – a guide for doctors, solicitors, union officials & exposed workers’ (1984)
draft GMBATU 'TIE pamphlet', 1984; TIE being thermal insulation engineers, also known as laggers
typescript GMBATU (1984) 'Draft TUC leaflet on asbestos'
Correspondence (including telephone memoranda) and papers, among them press releases, press coverage, articles, etc. In alphabetical order by name of union. Includes copies of
Tony O'Brien [2001] 'The fight to ban asbestos 1995-2000: construction safety campaign'
T & G (1998) 'Canadian asbestos kills: ban all asbestos'
Martin Stott (1983) ‘Fit as a fiddle? Case studies on international industrial health hazards’ (Trade Union International Research and Education Group)
Correspondence with various unions (in roughly alphabetical order by name of union). Includes publicity leaflets, press cuttings, copies of
International Metalworkers’ Federation (1979) ‘Action programme against asbestos’ (at AUEW)
Peter Kirby (c.1982) ‘Death in the textile industry: a proportional mortality study of 952 dyers, bleachers and textile workers who died between 1976-1980’ (at TGWU)
From the mid-1970s, Nancy Tait maintained very active contacts with a number of trade unions, discussing health & safety matters, news and developments. The resulting body of correspondence mostly accumulated by name of union.
