After the Biden Administration announced a rule banning the use of chrysotile asbestos this week, United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) General President Mark McManus praised the ban as an historic step towards protecting the health and safety of all workers across the construction industry:
“For far too long, both science and common sense aligned against the use of asbestos in the plumbing and construction industries. Sadly, too many of our members, and hundreds of thousands of Americans, have fallen sick or passed away from exposure to these toxins and their continued use.
"Now, thanks to President Biden and the Environmental Protection Agency, lives will be saved,” said Mark McManus, General President of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA).
“President Biden meant it when he promised to be the most pro- worker and pro-union president in history. With this ban, President Biden is telling every single worker in the construction industry that he has their back and that he will work to ensure every one of us is able to leave the jobsite safely each day without fear of getting sick from asbestos. This ban is historic and will no doubt protect millions of Americans in the generations to come.”
The UA is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) representing more than 374,000 highly skilled journeymen and apprentice plumbers, pipefitters, pipeliners, sprinkler fitters, welders, and HVACR service techs.