Union Workers Asbestos Claims

Union workers across a variety of industries have been exposed to asbestos.

For decades, union tradespeople kept our country running while unknowingly working around dangerous asbestos. If you worked a union job and now have mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you are not alone and you are not without options.

Union workers and their families have the right to hold companies accountable and seek compensation. An experienced law firm like ELSM can help you decide how to move forward.

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At a Glance: Asbestos & Union Workers

• Union workers who develop mesothelioma from asbestos exposure on the job may have the right to file a legal claim for compensation.
• Many jobs in the trades like electrical work, plumbing, and shipbuilding put workers at high risk for inhaling asbestos dust.
• Unions have been on the front lines of legal efforts to hold asbestos companies accountable, protect their members' rights, and support them during the claims process.
• You may be eligible for money through trust funds, lawsuits, workers’ comp, or VA benefits, depending on your work and medical history.
• An experienced attorney can help you understand your options and file the right claims. ELSM has recovered millions for union workers with mesothelioma.

Asbestos Exposure and Union Workers

Unions have always fought to protect workers, pushing for better pay and hours, job security, and safer working conditions, including eliminating toxic agents like asbestos. When diseases like mesothelioma started showing up in workers years after their exposure, unions helped organize lawsuits against the companies known for asbestos. They also played a key role in bringing public attention to the long-term harm caused by products that contain asbestos.

Unions can also help collect work records and jobsite information that support asbestos claims for union workers. Because of this, union workers often have a strong paper trail and support system when it comes to filing asbestos claims. That can make a difference when it’s time to fight back.

Jobs At Risk

Union trades often worked with asbestos products. You may have cut, sanded, repaired, or cleaned up materials that contained asbestos without ever knowing it. Here are some of the most common union jobs at risk for asbestos exposure:

Past Mesothelioma Payouts for Union Members

ELSM has helped many union workers and their families win major financial settlements after developing various types of mesothelioma. These payouts reflect not just medical costs, but also lost income, pain and suffering, and the toll this disease takes on families. Here are just a few examples of union members who we have helped stand up for their rights.

Occupation	Age	Union	Settlement Amount
Boiler worker	74	Plumbing and Steamfitting Local 269, now UA 373UA 373	$4,329,000
Furnace worker	85	Sheet Metal Workers’ (SMART) Local Union 73SMART 73	$2,023,000
Journeyman electrician	71	International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 591, now IBEW 595IBEW 595	$4,603,000
Refinery / Oil field worker	75	Laborers’ (LIUNA) Local 341LIUNA 341	$1,950,000

Unions and Asbestos Litigation

When the dangers of asbestos were finally exposed, many unions stepped forward to defend their members by gathering jobsite records, backing class action suits, and pressing lawmakers to take action. ELSM has filed asbestos lawsuits for union workers and their families across the country, handling cases from nearly every major trade union.

Even if your old local has a different name today or has merged into a larger organization, your exposure still counts. Below are some unions commonly tied to asbestos litigation, but if you don’t see yours listed, you could still have a claim based on your work history, your diagnosis, and your connection to union labor.

• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW): Electricians, linemen, cable splicers, and telecommunications technicians
• International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE): Operating engineers (bulldozers, cranes, excavators, and other heavy equipment) and stationary engineers (boilers, generators, HVAC, and other mechanical systems)
• United Auto Workers (UAW): Workers that build cars, trucks and parts, aerospace workers, and agricultural machinery operators
• The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA): Plumbers and pipefitters diagnosed with mesothelioma, as well as sprinkler fitters, HVACR technicians, welders, and pipeliners
• United Steelworkers (USW): Wide range of workers in steel, paper, rubber, manufacturing, and energy industries, including refinery workers
• Laborers’ International Union of North American (LIUNA): Energy sector and construction workers exposed to asbestos
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM): Machinists, toolmakers, mechanics, and other tradesmen in aerospace, transportation, automotive, woodworking, and defense industries
• United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA): General carpenters, millwrights, floor coverers, lathers, millworkers, cabinetmakers, and residential framers
• North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (NASRCC): Also represents general carpenters, millwrights, floor coverers, lathers, millworkers, cabinetmakers, and framers
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters: Public works including sanitation workers, water treatment workers, road crews, maintenance workers, and elevator mechanics
• International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU): Dockworkers on the West Coast of the United States, Hawaii and British Columbia
• International Longshoremen’s Assocation (ILA): Dockworkers on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, Great Lakes, major United States rivers, Puerto Rico, Eastern Canada, and the Bahamas
• International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF): EMS personnel and firefighters exposed to asbestos
• International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART): Sheet metal workers, service technicians, bus operators, railroad engineers, conductors, sign workers, welders, and production employees
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT): Industrial painters, commercial painters, drywall finishers, glaziers and glass workers, sign and display workers, and floor covering installers
• International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers (IW): Ironworkers in many different industries
• International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (AWIU): Insulators and asbestos workers
• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (IBB): Boilermakers, shipbuilders, manufacturing, railroad workers, and miners exposed to asbestos
• The Marine Engineer’s Beneficial Association (MEBA): United States Merchant Marines
• International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC): Bricklayers, stone masons, marble masons, cement masons, plasterers, tile setters, pointers, and caulkers
• Metal and Trades Council of New London: General Dynamics Electric Boat workers

Compensation for Union Members with Mesothelioma

If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, costs add up quickly for medical and in-home care, travel, lost income, and more. Thankfully, there are several ways union workers can get mesothelioma compensation, and many people qualify for more than one type of claim.

• Asbestos trust funds: Some of the responsible companies declared bankruptcy but were required to set up asbestos trust funds to pay future claims. If you worked with their products and now have mesothelioma, you may qualify for money from one or more of these trusts.
• Lawsuits against asbestos companies: If the company responsible for your exposure is still around, you can file a mesothelioma lawsuit to recover money for medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages.
• VA benefits: If you also served in the military, you may qualify for VA benefits. Family members can also receive benefits for dependents and survivors.
• Workers' compensation: Some union members can also file a workers' comp claim through their state system. This helps with lost income and medical care, especially if you’re still undergoing treatment.

An experienced mesothelioma law firm like ELSM can walk you through all these options, figure out which ones apply to you, and help you file claims and maximize your compensation.

How ELSM Law Supports Union Workers

ELSM has decades of experience fighting for asbestos victims, including union tradespeople with mesothelioma. We can determine how your asbestos exposure happened and how to prove it in court. We’ve helped thousands of hardworking people and their families file mesothelioma claims to cover treatment, make up for lost income, and bring justice to the companies responsible.

If you’re ready to talk, we’re ready to help. Contact us today for a free case review and let us fight for what your family deserves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file an asbestos-related claim if I’m retired from my union job?

Yes, retirees can still file. Mesothelioma usually develops decades after exposure, and many people are retired when they’re diagnosed. Your right to compensation is based on how, when and where you were exposed to asbestos.

What if the company I worked for is no longer in business?

You may still have options. Asbestos claims are typically filed against the manufacturer of the harmful product, which isn’t necessarily the same as the company you worked for. And, even if the manufacturer is out of business, they may have set up a trust fund. An experienced law firm can identify who is responsible for your exposure and help you file the right claims.

Are family members eligible for compensation if a union worker passed away from mesothelioma?

Yes, family can still file a claim. Spouses, children, and sometimes estate representatives may qualify to bring a wrongful death claim if a loved one passed away from mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure.

Will pursuing a legal claim affect my union pension or benefits?

No, it won’t. Legal claims for asbestos exposure are separate from union retirement funds, pensions, and healthcare benefits. Filing a claim does not take away any of the benefits you’ve earned as a union member.

What types of compensation are available to union workers with mesothelioma?

You may qualify for money from asbestos trust funds, settlements, VA benefits, or workers' compensation. Some families collect from several sources at once, depending on the job history and diagnosis. A lawyer can figure out what you're eligible for and file claims on your behalf.

How long do I have to file an asbestos claim as a union worker?

Each state has its own deadline, called a statute of limitations. It usually starts from the date of diagnosis or the date a loved one passed away. Since these deadlines can be short, it’s important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible.