Your Workers Compensation Rights Under Threat

Follow the link to the Flyer.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0ByefXfSUN33maS1CR2ozRFE4WXM

Dear member,

The O’Farrell Government plans to severely cut workers compensation payments.

In quick succession they have released an issues paper, set up a parliamentary inquiry and said they will push through the Parliament this session changes to the workers compensation scheme.

It’s a rush job with negligible public discussion and scant examination of the evidence.

The Parliamentary Inquiry was authorised on May 2, has had three public hearing days, with only a handful of interested parties given an opportunity to put their case, and it’s going to report on June 13. The PSA is one of the many not heard.

On Wednesday June 13 there will be a large lunchtime rally outside Parliament House, and rallies in Wollongong and Newcastle. Members who can are asked to attend these rallies.

This is not a stopwork meeting. Members attending are asked to take a long lunch break or take flex or recreation leave. If your manager refuses a leave request contact the  PSA/CPSU immediately.

Other members throughout the state can contribute to the public pressure against the unnecessary and harsh changes proposed by:

·     Signing and circulating the petition which can be downloaded from the PSA website at http://www.psa.labor.net.au/

·     Holding a PSA meeting at your workplace to discuss the issues and endorse the recommended resolution – download from the PSA website.

·     Invite your PSA/CPSU industrial officer and organisers to attend your meetings

·     Visit the combined unions campaign site and send a message to your Member of Parliament, add a story to the site, sign the online petition – it’s at http://www.nswforall.org.au/

·     Arrange a visit to your local MP

·     Ring your local radio station or send a letter to your local paper

·     There is background information on the PSA and campaign websites, and in the last Red Tape.

Thank you to members who have already committed to the rallies or have acted on the above suggestions.

The Government’s proposals are heavily loaded against the longer term ill and injured. They propose to:

·     Reduce weekly payments after 13 weeks

·     Cap weekly payments after 2.5 years – after 6months most long term injured receive only $432 per week, which is below the poverty line

·     Cap medical payments at 2.5 years, ignoring the fact that severely injured or ill people need ongoing treatment even though they may be back at work

·     Stop partners of those killed at work being compensated for nervous shock

·     Stop lump sum payments for pain and suffering

·     Removal of coverage for trips to and from work

·     Make harder the test for employer negligence in lump sum claims

We opposed the current scheme enacted in 2001 because it made things harder for injured workers and their families. Those changes have also give employers a 33 percent reduction in premiums.

Now the O’Farrell Government wants to further cut benefits.

The proposed cuts are not acceptable. We can force changes or even block the changes if we exert enough pressure. On June 13 let the government know their cuts are not accepted. And after June 13 make it clear they will not be forgotten or forgiven.

John Cahill

General Secretary.

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Workers Compensation June 13 Rally in Sydney

Wednesday June 13 at 12.30pm.

Rally outside Parliament House

PSA/CPSU members & supporters are asked to meet at the George St end of Martin Place at 12.00-12.15 so we can move up to the rally en masse.

Workers Compensation rights are too important. Don't let them take it away.