K-W RECORD ENDORSES CALL FOR A PUBLIC INQUIRY

Today's Waterloo Region Record's Editorial is a blunt in your face call to both our provincial and federal governments for real action regarding occupational health and safety issues as well as the compensation system for workers in this country. The Record acknowledge a small step forward with the most recent local 31 compensation cases being accepted but it is still far too little far too late. The Record are also advising that their preference is the gold standard, nation wide Royal Commission in regards to a public inquiry. Clearly the response for decades has been to minimize the effects of carcinogenic chemicals on the human body at local rubber factories in Kitchener-Waterloo such as Epton's, Uniroyal, B.F. Goodrich, Dominion Tire etc.

There is no shortage of studies indicating that Canadian workers have long been exposed to chemicals such as benzene, lead, asbestos, wood dust, diesel fumes etc. While many of our local industries have closed their doors and are no longer poisoning workers, can we be confident that it is not continuing either elsewhere or even here in different industries? The Record's Editorial is titled "Rubber workers' plight should inspire nationwide action".