Workers’ Compensation Laws Upheld in Springfield

Labor Helps Close Window on Unnecessary Changes for Injured Workers

Working in a broad coalition of organized labor, trial lawyers and physicians, Teamsters Joint Council 25 effectively silenced unnecessary changes to workers’ compensation as Illinois’ 96th General Assembly adjourned on January 12, 2011.

Facing opposition from labor unions statewide, legislators ignored the proposed legislation, which tacked workers’ compensation amendments onto a bill originally intended to amend the Trusts and Trustees Act. Had the legislation moved forward, injured workers might have faced substantial new limitations, including restrictions on health care financing and more rights for employers to access private information.

“Joint Council 25 has been fighting in Springfield for weeks, alongside doctors, hospitals and other unions that wish to protect and preserve workers’ compensation,” said John T. Coli, President of Joint Council 25. “For now, we’ve succeeded.”

Teamster representatives, including Joint Council 25 Political Director Mike Ciaccio, recently participated in multiple public hearings on workers’ compensation changes. Senate Bill 1066 proposed:

Changes to Health Care Financing

• The bill would have prohibited health care providers from assigning accounts receivable coverage.
• Joint Council 25 opposed this provision as many doctors maintain such coverage to finance their practices and additional options for care.

Limits on Wage-Differentials

• Under the current law, injured workers who do not return to their pre-injury jobs and ultimately earn less money are entitled to wage-differential awards for life. This aspect of workers’ compensation can only be modified if there is a change in physical disability.
• Under the proposed legislation, wage-differentials would have changed dramatically. Injured workers would receive awards only until age 67, employers would be entitled to private information—including a worker’s new earnings—and compensation could be modified based on finances, not disability.

Changes to Choice of Doctor

• The bill would have allowed employers to select an injured worker’s “first” doctor.
• The employee would retain the right to refuse care and choose a second doctor, except for emergency care.

“When Teamsters are injured at work, they should be afforded more access to better care, not less,” said Coli. “Workers should not feel the lawmakers they elected are working against them.”

With the 96th General Assembly adjourned, the amendments to workers’ compensation must be proposed in a new bill before additional action can be taken. Legislators of Illinois’ 97th General Assembly were officially sworn in on January 12.

“Should the General Assembly choose to continue its debate on workers’ compensation, the Teamsters will reignite our opposition in Springfield. Joint Council 25 will continue to ensure workers do not have their health and welfare benefits stripped away,” said Coli.

Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents more than 100,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and Indiana.

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