Labor Unions and Asbestos Exposure

How Labor Unions Protect Against Asbestos

Labor unions have played a vital role in helping protect employees from toxic asbestos, pushing for safer working conditions, more robust legislation and fairer treatment. They’re considered leaders in the fight against asbestos, helping reduce the number of work-related cases of mesothelioma.

Although labor unions’ history traces back to the earliest days of the 20th century, their battle against asbestos exposure didn’t take off until the end of World War II in 1945. As more information became public about the connection between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma cancer, unions helped bring it to light.

Reports showed workers exposed to asbestos were dying in disproportionate numbers. Unions supported workers and contributed to efforts to shine a light on negligence and efforts of asbestos product makers to hide the dangers, as well as the fact that many of these companies knew about the dangers and failed to warn the public.

History of Asbestos Use in US Industries

Asbestos use ramped up in WWII when it was heavily used in the military shipyards, construction projects and transportation, exposing service members and civilian workers alike. Though concern grew about military asbestos exposure, asbestos became pervasive after World War II.

Because asbestos became synonymous with the post-war economic boom in North America, it left its imprint across industries. Construction, manufacturing, mining, shipbuilding, railroading and automobile production all widely used the toxic mineral.

This naturally occurring mineral was prized for its versatility, affordability and ability to fireproof and strengthen almost anything mixed with it. Despite its usefulness, inhaling microscopic asbestos fibers lead to many serious asbestos-related diseases like asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Labor unions began seeing firsthand that asbestos fibers are toxic and their members were becoming ill. 

Union Involvement Starts to Grow

Dozens of trade unions emerged in the 20th century, and some of the more influential ones still exist. Union involvement in the fight to protect workers has varied over the years, often depending on what trade or industry was affected.

Active Unions That Protected Workers From Asbestos

• International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers: The union represents a number of different construction trades. It includes those skilled in the installation of mechanical insulation, asbestos and lead mitigation, and specialty fabrications.
• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers: This is a diverse union that goes beyond boiler construction and repair. Its workers are in industrial construction, maintenance and repair, manufacturing, marine repair and shipbuilding, mining and quarrying.
• United Auto Workers (UAW): The UAW goes well beyond the automobile industry while representing members in almost every sector of the economy. It includes auto manufacturing, high-tech aerospace and defense, health care, higher education and the gaming industry.
• Utility Workers Union of America: These are workers in the gas, water, electric and nuclear industries.
• United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers: The union represents those who work with roofing and waterproofing systems, including low-sloped and steep-sloped roofing and air-barrier applications.
• Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen: This is North America’s oldest rail labor union, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2013. It represents most all train-service employees on numerous railroads.
• International Longshoremen’s Association, AFL-CIO: It’s the largest collection of maritime workers in North America.
• United Mine Workers of America, AFL-CIO: This union, founded in 1890, is formed by a diverse group of coal miners, manufacturing workers, public employees, truck drivers and clean coal technicians.
• International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union: These are the people who erect the framework of almost every major structure, including schools, stadiums, bridges, shopping malls, hospitals and office parks.

Unions are best known for bargaining to improve wages, benefits and working conditions. Still, they have also been equally instrumental in protecting workers from unsafe conditions and toxic materials like asbestos.

These organizations warned employees and companies about the dangers of asbestos nearly 70 years ago. Unions sounded the alarm, even in the early years, long before legislation began more strictly controlling asbestos.

Unions Advocating for Legislation to Protect Workers

The United Steelworkers Union has lobbied Congress for decades, asking for amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act to better protect workers. In 2013, for example, the union submitted an official report to Congress.

The official submitted report stated, “Asbestos is still in commercial use in the United States. The EPA has not tried to ban a substance since the ruling on asbestos 22 years ago.” In 2024, the Biden Administration started a lengthy phasing out of chrysotile asbestos; however, the EPA in 2025, now under the Trump administration, is reconsidering the former administration’s decision to ban the ongoing use of chrysotile asbestos. 

Unions have been instrumental in the legislative process for many years. They’ve been fighting proposed bills in Congress since 2005 that aim to weaken the ability of harmed workers to hold companies legally accountable for negligence. 

On the state level, labor unions are battling business-backed legislative efforts today to make filing mesothelioma lawsuits more difficult for workers.

Heat and Frost Insulators Union

For many years, the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators & Allied Workers has led important efforts to support its members facing asbestos risks. One major initiative was the Health Hazard Screening Program, which offered help to workers and their families. 

Another key effort was the Political Action Fund, which ensured the union’s concerns were heard in Congress. The union also created an Instructor Training Program focused on asbestos removal. This program gave members the tools and knowledge to better protect themselves. A message repeated throughout the union’s website is that “it is the workers’ right to know when they are in danger.”

The union also published many educational materials about asbestos for its members. These included books and brochures with titles like: “Danger—Asbestos Kills, A Worker’s Guide to Health Rights,” “Don’t Let Asbestos Kill Your Wife and Children” and “Here’s How to Protect Yourself.”

Offering Support to Union Members

In addition to lobbying for better worker protections, unions help their members find the legal and medical assistance they need. They can help their members get help from mesothelioma lawyers who specialize in the complexities of asbestos-related injury cases.

They also support advocacy and awareness efforts that can help union members. In 2024, for example, the International Association of Fire Fighters and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization teamed up to unveil a massive Times Square billboard urging a nationwide asbestos ban. Featuring a firefighter and the message “Ban Asbestos Now,” the awareness campaign aimed to bring attention to the danger asbestos poses to firefighters, push for legislative action and protect first responders.

Unions have led the push for early and regular health screenings for asbestos-exposed workers. The Capitol Police Union filed a formal complaint with Washington, D.C.’s Office of Compliance over asbestos exposure risks to its officers. And the Firefighters Union in Everett, Washington, fought for and secured lifetime medical monitoring for members exposed to asbestos during a training exercise from the city.

Unions have also fought for fairness in assigning asbestos handling and removal tasks. Data from New York City showed 76% of asbestos removal work in 2020 was assigned to minority workers. Unions have been working to make sure tasks like this are assigned fairly.

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