JUSTICE FOR INJURED WORKERS NOW!
In 2002, when the NSW Government made major changes
to the workers compensation system, they guaranteed that
no worker would be worse off. Three years later, there
is clear evidence that the system contains significant
injustice, particularly for workers who are seriously
injured and unable to work. Workers are now
significantly worse off than they were before the
changes.
The changes made that have stripped workers of their
rightful benefits include:
1.The introduction of WorkCover Guidelines based on
“all-body impairment” which means workers are unable to
reach the threshold to sue their employer for damages
because of injury caused by employer negligence.
2.The use of binding medical panels, based on an
arbitrary assessment, to determine if a worker gets over
the common law threshold. All other people in NSW have
the right to an independent court, after consideration
of all the factors determining this. Why are workers
treated differently?
3.If you can get over the common law threshold there is
a cap on damages that limits recovery to wages loss
only. The benefits available under the statutory scheme
do not come near to compensating workers to the same
level as they used to get at common law. Prisoners
injured in gaol have better rights than workers.
4.The WorkCover guidelines operate to reduce the amount
of lump sums available under s66 of the Workers
Compensation Act.
5.A system that treats workers with disdain. A system
where workers do not have control over their lives.
There are now many examples of insurance companies
abusing workers in the way that claims are managed,
including, refusing to pay workers compensation payments
regularly and by EFT, making workers fill in meaningless
bits of paper or risk losing their benefits, failing to
reimburse workers for expenses and putting workers
through inappropriate rehabilitation plan, suspending
benefits if workers refuse.
6.Workers are not entitled to high quality effective
legal representation.
The trade union movement has stood by and watched this
misery for long enough. The system is a disgrace and
needs immediate reform to ensure that workers rights are
enhanced and protected.
The CFMEU, AMWU and other trade unions call for justice
for injured workers and immediate action by the NSW
Government
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1.Submit the Protest Form below to send a protest email
to the Minister for Industrial Relations
2.Print out this leaflet
and place it on your work site.
Justice for Injured Workers Now - Email
Protest Form
By submitting this form you will be sending an email to;
THE HON JOHN HATZISTERGOS MP - Minister for Industrial
Relations
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