Dozens of former Neelon Casting workers come forward with health concerns

A Sudbury union representativehelping with workers' compensation claims for a now-closed manufacturer says she has been overwhelmed with more than 250 messages in one week.

Last Friday, CBC reported about a cluster of occupational diseases that have surfaced among former employees of Neelon Casting. Thecompany operated for more than 30 years in Sudbury, and closed in 2007.

Since then some workers have developedlung cancers,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) andother illnesses.

Steelworkers Local 2020's Jessica Montgomery is helping former workers file WSIB claims for their illnesses. Since the story went public, she says she's been flooded with calls and emails.

"I think I have about 45 workers who have ... claims that I could establish and initiate today," she said.

"Alot of ... workers [are] willing to provide information and further details in regards to plant processes, job descriptions and things that [they]were exposed to as well."

Montgomery says many of the workers she's spoken with are not surprised by the health issues that are surfacing,long after the company closed its doors.

"They knew that it was the kind of a thing, that eventually that this was going to make them sick. That part of it that wasn't a surprise to many of the people that I did talk to," she said.

Montgomery encourages people with connections to Neelon Casting to contact her. She says an intake clinic is planned for Oct. 1.