Save Our Worker Comp

SAVE WORKER COMPENSATION

Contact Your State Representatives and

Governor Matt Blunt...

Shortly after the November elections, leaders of the AFL-CIO in Missouri sat down with Governor Matt Blunt and Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons (R-Kirkwood) and committed that the AFL-CIO would work constructively to forge a compromise on workers compensation legislation.

As a result of those meetings, we reached a mutual (if reluctant) agreement on Senate Bill 1 as revised by the full Senate. Hugh McVey, the President of the Missouri AFL-CIO praised Gov. Blunt and Sen. Gibbons both publicly and privately for their dedication to protecting workers and their health and safety in Missouri.

Unfortunately, Republican leaders of the Missouri Senate reneged on that commitment and last night accepted extremely damaging House provisions in the SB 1 substitute that both legislative chambers will vote on shortly. These changes violate the letter and spirit of the earlier agreement.

It appears that State Senator Gibbons and his colleagues have chosen to turn their backs on the needs of Missouri workers and expose them to unjust worker comp benefit reductions, delays and denials under this proposal. Sen. Gibbons has abandoned our interests when he first had an opportunity to protect the health and well- being of workers and their families. Instead, he listened only to the concerns of his business supporters.

Your State Representative, your State Senator and Governor Matt Blunt need to hear from you on this legislation. Tell them to "SAY NO TO SENATE BILL 1." You can click on the link below to send this message

We urge you to send these messages. We also urge you to forward this message to co -workers and friends. Attached you will find the "What's at Stake" pages.

The time is short. Please act today.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: DON'T DESTROY WORKER COMPENSATION

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I and thousands of other working Missourians simply can't afford the cuts to our worker compensation system found in Senate Bill 1.

A majority of the conference committee members that considered this legislation simply turned their backs on injured workers and their families.

Please say NO to Senate Bill 1. Protect the health and safety of working Missourians.

Please let me know where you stand on this important legislation that affects my job and my families future.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 15, 2005

Background Information

Summary: Workers Compensation Bill

(Missouri Senate Bill 1 – conference committee substitute)

n Work must form the “prevailing” factor for injuries rather than the current “substantial” factor. The higher standard will force thousands of workers each year to face unwarranted challenges and lengthy delays of their workers compensation benefits, clogging the state administrative claims system, threatening their medical care and depriving families of financial support. The standard for workers compensation benefits now becomes higher than that in the courts for other types of injuries.

n The bill will eliminate coverage of many injuries because it will not allow evidence based upon an employee’s pain or soft tissue injuries, which do not register on an X-ray or similar medical tests.

n SB 1’s changes will disqualify many repetitive motion injuries and allow discrimination against older workers. The bill will permit employers to claim such injuries are the result of aging rather than the job.

n The legislation will raise workers’ costs for auto, home and health coverage. Thousands of injured, but ineligible workers will need to seek payment of medical care by their health plans – raising already high premiums -- and the bill also forces auto and home policies, when they apply, to cover injuries in lieu of workers compensation.

n Workers would lose 25 to 50 percent of all benefit costs, including medical care, if they violate safety standards even if they were not aware of the rule.

n SB 1 denies workers reimbursement for their travel costs to seek medical treatment. This change will severely affect rural workers who often must travel long distances for care, particularly by specialists.

n Workers will need to use their vacation or personal leave to seek medical care, even though the job caused the injuries.

n Thousands of over-the-road truckers who own their rigs will lose workers compensation coverage altogether.

n State administrative law judges must approve settlements even when they are unfair to injured workers.

Tell your legislator to vote NO on SB 1

Click on the link to send an email message to your State Rep, your State Senator and to Governor Matt Blunt. You can also call 573-751-2000 and ask to speak to your legislator.