By Doug Cunningham

A health study by the Boston University School of Public Health’s Dr. Richard Clapp confirms that overall cancer rates are considerably higher among IMB production workers than among the general population. The study is published in the Environmental Health Journal. It includes data from IBM’s own “Corporate Mortality File”. Alliance at IBM, a Communications Workers of America labor organizing group active at IBM, says this study confirms that IBM manufacturing processes are creating serious health issues for workers. The Alliance@IBM wants local, state and federal government officials to do a health surveillance of IBM workers and to require that worker exposure to toxic substances be substantially reduced. The alliance also wants a fund created to help defray medical costs for affected IBM workers and their families.