Injured Workers Support Network members will tomorrow take to the streets and join unions and community supporters at a rally at NSW Parliament House in protest of the O’Farrell governments proposed slashing of workers compensation benefits to injured and ill workers.The IWSN have a few people who will be carrying the IWSN banner!
Take to the streets and join the IWSN tomorrow to protest against workers comp NSW slashes
The NSW Workers Compensation Scheme Committee is due to table the report on the New South Wales Workers Compensation Scheme tomorrow following 3 days of public hearings.
Injured Workers Support Network recent survey of over 300 workers clearly identifies the issues frequently faced by injured workers and their families -
59% of injured workers reported having contemplated suicide as a result of their injury
55% said their relationships had suffered significantly
34% said they were now separated or divorced
65% reported their health was ‘much worse’ off than before their work related injury or illness
A failure to adequately address these issues will have a dire effect on injured workers and their families.”
“The Injured Workers Support Network is currently preparing its submission to the National Bullying Inquiry.
Bullying has a direct link to workers compensation issues. The survey also identified injured workers are routinely being bullied by insurers and employers. This has serious consequences for individuals and the wider community. Every Australian has a right to feel safe and respected in the workplace”.
Join the IWSN tomorrow 12:30pm for a Rally outside Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney, to say no to cuts to workers compensationUnions NSW will, of course also be there!
Background:
The Injured Workers Network was set up in early 2011to assist and support workers who have sustained work related injuries, illness and disabilities. To provide and share information and experiences about the workers compensation system and the rights of injured & disabled workers.
Media Contacts:
Michelle Burgess Mobile:0419402775 John McPhilbin Mobile: 0468870419 Bathurst : Peter Tully Mobile:0402801176Press release from The Injured Workers Support Network
Address: PO Box 123, GRANVILLE NSW 2142
Phone: (02) 97497666 Email: support@injuredworkerssupport.org.au
Website: www.injuredworkerssupport.org.au
[post entered by T on behalf of workcovervictim- this article was previously posted under PRESS RELEASE by John McPhilpbin]
Shortlink: http://aworkcovervictimsdiary.com/?p=9650
Oops, apologies, the joys of co-authoring… means we have just duplicated our blog entries… no worries,John says we can remove his entry as this one looks “prettier”-thanks John;)
Note: unions NSW is also organising a huge rally, for more info please visit their website
Protest over WorkCover cuts
Staff from TAFE, the ABC, the Powerhouse and UTS will assemble in Ultimo in central Sydney shortly after NSW Treasurer Mike Baird hands down the state budget yesterday.
Unions NSW Secretary Mark Lennon said the changes to WorkCover, which could be approved by parliament this week, mean workers will lose protection when travelling to or from work.
A cap would also be introduced for medical expenses and compensation would be cut off after two-and-a-half years.
“People who have been badly injured at work are among society’s most vulnerable,” Mr Lennon said in a statement.
“The last thing they need is for the government to swoop in and remove a chunk of the modest entitlements that allow them to maintain a dignified existence.”
Nurses in NSW have voted to stop work over the WorkCover overhaul tomorrow.
The government claims premiums will skyrocket if a $4.1 billion deficit isn’t reined in, but unions fear the WorkCover reforms will lead to injured workers having their benefits slashed.
NSW Nurses Association general secretary Brett Holmes said rallies would be held across the state after a preliminary assessment of the plan indicated that nurses and midwives could face a 20 per cent pay cut in the fourth month after their work injury.
AAP
WorkCover shake-up
More unpopular decisions are expected to follow, with the recommendations of a hasty inquiry into WorkCover expected to be delivered in the shadow of the budget tomorrow.
The report is expected to recommend tough cuts to benefits for injured workers.
Mr Robertson says any changes should focus on insurance companies not the workers.
“Workplace injuries are random they can happen to anyone at any time and cuts to workers benefits is not the way this Premier ought to be going if he’s got a problem with this scheme,” he said.
“The insurance companies are making multi-million dollar profits and there are no proposals to look at how they manage their affairs when it comes to workers compensation.”
Read more :http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-12/nervous-wait-for-nsw-budget/4065180
Injured workers to rally against O’Farrell’s workers compensation cuts
The Injured Workers Support Network released the statement below on June 12.
* * *
Injured Workers Support Network members will tomorrow take to the streets and join unions and community supporters at a rally at NSW Parliament House in protest of the O’Farrell government’s proposed slashing of workers compensation benefits to injured and ill workers.
The NSW Workers Compensation Scheme Committee is due to table the report on the New South Wales Workers Compensation Scheme tomorrow following three days of public hearings.
Injured worker John McPhilbin said: “There is much more to reforms than simply cutting costs. There are a host of human welfare issues to consider. Failure to acknowledge the very real impact of ill-conceived and arbitrary cost cutting of current benefits will have on the lives’ of injured workers and their families presents a very real moral dilemma for the O’Farrell government.
Injured Workers Support Network recent survey of over 300 workers clearly identifies the issues frequently faced by injured workers and their families:
• 59% of injured workers reported having contemplated suicide as a result of their injury.
• 55% said their relationships had suffered significantly.
• 34% said they were now separated or divorced.
• 65% reported their health was “much worse” off than before their work related injury or
illness.
A failure to adequately address these issues will have a dire effect on injured workers and their families.
Injured Workers Support Network spokesperson Michelle Burgess said: “The government’s attack on injured workers and their families in the Issues Paper is appalling. Injured workers are already in a vulnerable position in the current scheme and the changes suggested seek only to make injured workers worse off.
“The Injured Workers Support Network is currently preparing its submission to the National Bullying Inquiry.
“Bullying has a direct link to workers compensation issues. The survey also identified injured workers are routinely being bullied by insurers and employers. This has serious consequences for individuals and the wider community. Every Australian has a right to feel safe and respected in the workplace”.
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51291