A protest was held outside James Hardie's shareholders' meeting on August 19. I am a city-based Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) site delegate. Over the years, many of us construction workers have seen workmates become ill and die because of the effects of working with asbestos products made by James Hardie.
I received a call from my area organiser. At short notice about a 100 or more delegates from the CFMEU, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and the maritime union, along with members of a northern NSW Aboriginal community, who had come all the way from Baryugil, attended the protest.
The protest was in response to what appears to be stalling tactics by the company in paying compensation, as it searchs for loopholes to minimise payments. These delays have raised fears that James Hardie will try to walk away from last year's $1.9 billion compensation settlement.
Members of the Aboriginal community were wearing T-shirts that read "I work in asbestos"; even more touching were the shirts worn by the kids: "We played in asbestos".
CFMEU organiser Rebel Hanlin was on the megaphone encouraging protesters to chant. Brian Parker, CFMEU assistant secretary, and Paul Bastian, AMWU state secretary, reminded protesters that the victims and their unions are calling on the company to accept full responsibility.
"We want an unequivocal statement from James Hardie that they will not up and run. And we want an unequivocal statement from the CEO and the chair of the board that James Hardie is committed to full compensation for asbestos victims", Bastion demanded.
Bastion noted that James Hardie had just announced a massive quarterly profit of more than $68 million. However, the company appeared to be holding off making payments to victims while seeking a ruling from the Australian Taxation Office that the compensation would be tax deductible.
There were calls of "Shame, Hardie, shame" from the protesters. Bastion also reminded protesters that this struggle is international and wherever James Hardie goes in the world to have its shareholders' meetings, victims, their unions and their families will be protesting.