Workers Compensation Report – One Year On

19 June 2013

Workers Compensation Report – One Year On outlines the findings of the Unions NSW online survey on Workers Compensation.

The report highlights the human impacts of the Government’s changes to workers compensation.

2,340 people completed the workers compensation survey, 1392 (60%) of whom had suffered an injury or illness at work.

Key findings from the survey include:

-          93% of people are opposed the Government’s changes to workers compensation;

-          Of the 1392 injured workers, 504 were receiving weekly payments in June 2012;

-          92 workers reported a reduction in their weekly payments as a result of the changes;

-          71% of people receiving weekly payments have not yet undergone a Work Capacity Assessment;

-          86% of injured workers sustained their injury prior to June 2012.

In the coming weeks, we will also be compiling the hundreds of individual stories from the survey results. These will be posted to the website www.nswforall.org.au

If you have any questions regarding the report, please contact kminter@unionsnsw.org.au or on 9881 5918

Survey about work related injury

View Online Do you have a work-related injury or illness or were you injured, travelling to or from work?  Or are you a family member or workmate of someone who has had such an ordeal? We want to hear from you. Complete this survey and give us insight into your personal experiences of the NSW Workers Compensation system. As a result of the NSW O’Farrell Government’s changes to Workers Compensation in June 2012 those with workplace injuries and illnesses, and their families, have been dealt a tremendous blow to their rights and entitlements. In most cases, injured and ill workers will have their entitlements reduced, or scrapped altogether. For more information on the workers compensation changes go towww.nswforall.org.au. Workers Compensation is one of the most important rights that belong to working people. It was a right that was fought for and won by the union movement and workers. It is meant to ensure that someone who is injured or ill as a result of their work is properly and decently cared for. The NSW O’Farrell Government’s changes are a direct attack on fair treatment and respect for all workers and their families. By completing this survey you will help us assess the consequences of the Workers Compensation changes one year after they were introduced. The survey should take between 3 and 10 minutes to complete, depending on your circumstances.  Thank you, Emma Maiden Deputy Assistant Secretary Unions NSW Over the next year, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service will, in New South Wales alone, need over 400,000 donations of blood, over 100,000 donations of plasma and nearly 10,000 donations of platelets. Unions NSW is the voice of working people in NSW and represents over 600,000 affiliated members and over 67 affiliated unions.  Sydney Trades Hall was established by the developing trade union movement in NSW. The building was first begun in 1888 with the final meeting hall finished in 1917. The industry super fund and union movements' hard-fought principles of fairness and collective benefit are at the very heart of our business.  Please follow us on:

This email was sent by Unions NSW, 4 Goulburn St, Sydney. toMarkfchristopher@gmail.com Unsubscribe

Workers Compensation Insurance. Free only for CPSU/PSA members.

Workers Compensation Insurance. Free only for CPSU/PSA members.

Detailed Changes to Workers Compensation from Unions NSW

Changes to workers compensation Bulletin

Workers compensation bulletin

Leafleting to inform others about the cuts to workers compensation

Ultimo was filled with the words "Changes to Workers Compensation" and "Stand up against the cuts to workers Compensation" take a leaflet thanks to our CPSU organiser and local delegates this morning.

Rosa Bow and  Nathan Bradshaw Building 1

 

Max Callaghan Building 10

Ultimo TAFE was covered by Leon Parrisi, Ian Lisser and other delegates.

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.

---

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.