Union Calls for Cancer Research into Semiconductor Workers

The UK labour union, Unite has called on the UK's semiconductor industry to fund research into claims that workers suffer from a higher incidence of cancer than the general population. The union, in particular, wants the industry to institute the research proposed by a UK government study published in 2005.

Following a meeting with Unite, the Health and Safety Minister, Lord McKenzie, wrote to senior executives in the semiconductor industry to formally raise with them Unite's concerns about cancer risks in the industry, and also set out his view that the industry should fund a national study.

The union says that the semiconductor industry has responded by saying that they believe "there is no clear evidence of work-related cancer in the semiconductor industry and does not accept there is a need to conduct an industry-wide study."

Peter Skyte, Unite National Officer, said: "This is in our view an Alice in Wonderland approach. It is precisely because there is no clear evidence that we, the government and the HSE [Health and Safety Executive] see the need for a national study. If there were compelling evidence of an increased risk of occupational cancer, there would not be a need for the study."

Posted to the site on 28th April 2008