From an ATL member

Date: 2010-02-25

I am writing this letter in the hope that you will publish it in [ATL's magazine] Report.

I want to seriously urge all retiring members to keep a retired membership going when retired.

A year ago, when I was 69, I was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, a lung cancer which I had never heard of.

It was a huge shock as I was very fit and had never smoked.

I was told that it had been caused by contact with asbestos at some point in my life. I was devastated. AS far as I knew, I had never been exposed to asbestos.

Upon further investigation into Mesothelioma on the internet, we discovered that there is still asbestos in the materials with which schools were built before 1980. We also discovered that many teachers have been, and continue to be, affected by this disease.

I was a Primary School Teacher from 1973 - 1993. I did not know that I was working in an unsafe environment.

I have always continued to pay my ATL membership (reduced rate) and I now thank heaven that I have.

I was told by my Macmillan Nurse upon diagnosis that Mesothelioma, this asbestos-related disease, had compensation attached to it. No money can replace lost health or lost life, but Iw as advised to contact my union, to find out if they would take on a claim related to asbestos.

They knew all about ti as they had handled many such claims for others before me, and currently.

The ATL solicitors are now handling my claim, with great expertise and professionalism, at no expense whatsoever to me.

Again, I urge all retiring teachers to continue paying their union membership.

The saying goes that "we never know what is around the next corner". Well, I found out what was around mine!