WORKERS
COMPENSATION
LAWS -
REPORT 1
SA
Unions
has
chosen
to
release
a report
commissioned
from the
University
of South
Australia
which is
the
first
collection
of
issues
and
impacts
of the
laws on
injured
workers
on the
day (1
April)
that
almost
3,000
workers
are
facing
100%
loss of
income
through
the
changes
to the
workers
compensation
laws.
>>..
read
on
Key
findings
of the
report
show:
-
workers
choices
are
reduced
when
faced
with a
WorkCover
claim
-
extreme
anxiety
about
the new
medical
panels
which do
not
allow
workers
to be
represented
or to
question
the
decision
of the
panel
-
considerable
financial
hardship
for
injured
workers
-
an
increase
in the
number
of
pre-emptive
payouts
often to
the
financial
and
emotional
detriment
of
workers
-
less
time and
less
adequate
rehabilitation
and
training
-
significant
amount
of
severe
emotional
stress
and
possible
suicides
-
>>..
full
report
MIKE
RANN -
SHARE
THE PAIN
SA
Unions
calls on
Premier
Ran to
address
the
unfunded
liability,
not by
continuing
to
attack
injured
workers
but by
sharing
the pain
and
demanding
an
immediate
increase
in
employers
levies.
>> ..read
on
WORKCOVER
FIASCO
EXPOSES
IMMORAL,
IRRESPONSIBLE
POLICY -
WITH
$1BILLION
UNFUNDED
LIABILITIES
The
South
Australian
government
has been
shamed
by the
failure
of its
changes
to the
WorkCover
laws,
which
attacked
workers'
rights,
to halt
the
Corporation's
financial
woes.
With its
unfunded
liabilities
topping
$1Billion
the
government
stands
condemned
by its
short
sightedness,
heartlessness,
and
political
pig
headedness
>
read on.
NOW
INDEPENDENTS
AND
GREENS
COME TO
DEFEND
WORKERS
RIGHTS
SA
Unions
congratulates
all the
independents
and
minor
party
members
in the
Upper
House
for
staunchly
defending
the
rights
of
injured
workers
in the
Legislative
Council
>
read on.
RANK AND
FILE
WORKERS
DELIVER
MESSAGE
TO
PREMIER
Over 40
rank and
file
members
from
unions
representing
over
140,000
workers
in South
Australia
met at
Old
Parliament
House
and
unanimously
passed
the
following
motion
and
delivered
it to
Mike
Rann's
office >
read on.
Motion
Delegates
and
members
of all
unions
in South
Australia
urge the
Premier
to
reconsider
the
current
Bill
before
Parliament
which
amends
the
Workers
Rehabilitation
&
Compensation
Act.
In
particular
we are
concerned
that :
-
The
step
down
in
wages
after
13
and
26
weeks
will
unfairly
impact
on
the
lowest
paid
workers
leaving
them
to
live
on a
wage
below
the
minimum
wage.
-
The
130
week
work
capacity
review
ill
mean
most
workers
will
be
kicked
off
WorkCover
payments
without
any
demonstration
that
there
has
been
a
genuine
attempt
to
employ
them
or
provide
them
with
re-training.
-
The
use
of
medical
panels
as
outlined
in
the
Bill
is
more
extreme
than
in
any
other
state.
If
they
are
to
be
used
then,
as
in
Victoria,
they
need
to
be a
voluntary
part
of
the
system,
attached
to
the
conciliation
progress
with
agreement
of
the
parties
as a
mechanism
to
resolve
medical
issues.
-
The
suspension
of
pay
of
workers
who
wish
to
dispute
decisions
in
the
Tribunal
is
not
a
significant
saving
to
the
scheme
is
unjust
and
should
be
removed.
-
Access
to
common
law
is
necessary
if
there
is
an
end
point
in
entitlements.
This
is
in
line
with
every
other
state
in
the
country.
-
There
is
likely
to
be a
reduction
in
payments
to
workers
for
loss
of
body
function
and
capacity.
-
There
is a
lack
of
focus
on
employers
and
their
obligations
to
make
workplaces
safer
and
treat
their
injured
workers
fairly.
Instead
the
Bill
will
continue
to
be a
situation
where
SA
has
one
of
the
lowest
levy
caps
in
Australia
and
a
levy
reduction
will
provide
a
bonus
for
employers
at
the
expense
of
workers'
entitlements.
We
call on
Mike
Rann to
urgently
establish
genuine
negotiations
with the
representatives
of
working
people
in South
Australia
to
develop
proposals
which
will
address
the
financial
issues
facing
WorkCover
in a way
that
minimises
the
impact
on
injured
workers.
MAY DAY
MARCH -
SAVE
WORKCOVER
This
year
1,000's
marched
march to
tell
Mike
Rann to
stop
attacking
the
rights
of
injured
workers.
Nobody
asks to
be
injured
at work
- if you're
hurt at
work,
how
would
you pay
the
mortgage,
the
bills
and look
after
the
kids?
In a
crisis
WorkCover
is there
to
support
your
family.
But
right
now, Mr
Rann is
planning
to slash
your
safety
net and
save
business
money
instead.
So you
will
have to
struggle
on less
while
companies
get a
bonus.
And this
is a
Labor
Government?
Join SA
Unions
in its
fight
to -
-
keep a
fair
workers
compensation
system
in SA
-
get
workers
back to
work
safely
and
fairly
-
improve
the
finances
of the
scheme
-
get an
improved
scheme
that
gets
more
people
back to
work
safely
and
fairly
-
get safe
workplaces
where
injuries
are
prevented
Join the
campaign
to save
WorkCover
- visit
the
Save
WorkCover
Now
website
or
contact
SA
Unions
phone :
8279 222
or email
:
saunions@saunions.org.au
Download
a
petition
to help
save
WorkCover
Fact
Sheet
Facts
Mike
Rann has
put a
law into
Parliament
that
attacks
the
rights
and cuts
the pay
of
injured
workers.
At the
same
time he
wants to
reduce
the
costs
for
employers.
The law
will
mean
that -
-
Injured
workers
will
have to
live on
80% of
their
wage
after
only 13
weeks
- Most
workers
will be
kicked
off the
scheme
with no
pay from
WorkCover
after 2
and a
half
years
-
Injured
workers
will
have
their
pay
suspended
if they
dispute
a
decision
about
their
claim
- The
amount
injured
workers
receive
for loss
of a
limb or
body
function
will be
less and
always
at the
discretion
of the
WorkCover
Board.
What can
you do
Visit
the
Save
WorkCover
Website
join the
blog and
voice
your
opinion
tell the
Premier
you
don't
support
cuts to
injured
workers
become a
volunteer
distribute
flyer on
the
Campaign
(page 1)
(page 2)
Media
Releases
Radio Ads
SA Unions
has begun
its public
campaign in
defence of
WorkCover,
with the
launch of
radio
advertising
in Adelaide.
Reports
