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New York Workers Compensation Alliance
- New York 9/11 First Responder Hospital Worker Bill Gives Workers 75% Workers' Comp Benefits
Private hospital workers, emergency medical technicians (EMT's) and paramedics who were dispatched to Ground Zero after 9/11 will be potentially the first workers in New York State Workers' Compensation history to receive 75% of their lost wages, as opposed to the traditional 66 2/3% rate of compensation, based on a new bill passed last week in Albany.
This is a significant victory for these forgotten heroes of 9/11 and another victory for the hospital workers' unions in Albany. As reported in Workers' Comp Central:
- "New York Workers Compensation Alliance, which includes claimants' attorneys and other workers' advocates, praised the compromise bill Thursday.
Troy Rosasco, co-chairman of the alliance, said a board member of the organization helped draft the legislation.
"It is a great victory for some of the forgotten heroes of 9/11," Rosasco said. He said the bill will help bring parity with benefits already paid to public employees. "
- "New York Workers Compensation Alliance, which includes claimants' attorneys and other workers' advocates, praised the compromise bill Thursday.
- New York State Senate Confirms Zachary S. Weiss as New Chairman of Workers' Compensation Board
Zachary S. Weiss, Esq, a lawyer and long time confidant to Governor Eliot Spitzer, was confirmed late last night as the new Chairman of the New York State Workers' Compensation Board. See Mr. Weiss' biography here. The New York Workers' Compensation Alliance wishes him well in his new position and pledges to work with him and his administration to better the plight of New York's injured workers.
Despite his new position, the Workers' Compensation Alliance (WCA) has been working with the new Chair since earlier this year on such issues as the "Rocket Docket Task Force" while he was Special Counsel in the New York State Insurance Department. In recent conversations with the Workers' Compensation Alliance leadership, the new Chair has stated a strong willingness to work with injured workers and their representatives to improve a system that has taken a decidedly "employer turn" in the previous administration.
The twin goals of speeding benefits to injured workers and lowering employers costs are attainable. For instance, eliminating costly and unnecessary medical depositions would help both injured workers and employers. In addition, the Chair will be overseeing the implementation of revised medical and vocational guidelines to help determine an injured workers' true level of disability and potential to return to work.
Again, the WCA welcomes Zachary "Zack" Weiss as the new Chair of the venerable and prestigious New York Workers' Compensation Board. He is a sharp, well seasoned professional. Injured workers need a strong advocate in their corner.
- NY Commissioner of Labor M. Patricia Smith to Attend Workers' Compensation Alliance Event
M. Patricia Smith, Gov. Spitzer's new Commissioner of Labor, has graciously accepted the invitation of the New York Workers' Compensation Alliance (WCA) to attend our cocktail party this Friday, September 28th, 2007 at the Desmond Hotel in Albany. The WCA event immediately precedes the New York Injured Workers Bar Association Seminar scheduled for the following day.
Commissioner Smith is making headlines in the sphere of workers' compensation by spearheading Governor Spitzer's efforts to stop employers from mislabeling "employees" as "independent contractors" - a money saving scheme that has cost the state and honest employers alike millions of dollars in past years. In addition, Gov. Spitzer has charged Commissioner Smith with crafting "return to work" initiatives for injured workers. We look forward to hearing Commissioner Smith's comments on these important issues this Friday.
Any workers' compensation attorneys who have not yet signed up for this event can do so by contacting WCA Co- Chairs John Sciortino at 585-475-1100 or Troy Rosasco at 631-582-3700 x123. Hope to see you there!
- Spitzer Extends 9/11 World Trade Center Workers' Compensation Registration Deadline Until August 14, 2008
Congratulations to Governor Spitzer, Senate Majority Leader Bruno and Assembly Speaker Silver for extending until August 14, 2008 the time for World Trade Center rescue, recovery and clean up workers and volunteers to register for protection for future illnesses caused by their work in and around Ground Zero. Click here for further information and a blank registration form for your use. If you worked or volunteered in or around Ground Zero after September 11, 2001, please register today for the benefit of yourself and your family. Any questions, please feel free to contact the New York Workers' Compensation Alliance.
- NY AFL-CIO Names WCA Board Member Advisor to Workers' Compensation Medical Guidelines Task Force
James McCarthy, Esq, a member of the New York Workers' Compensation Alliance Board of Directors and founder of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial Scholarship for children of injured workers, has been selected as an Advisor to the New York AFL-CIO on Governor Spitzer's new Workers' Compensation Medical Guidelines Task Force. Mr. McCarthy will serve along side Stephen Levin, MD, Co-Director of Mt. Sinai Medical Center's Irving Selikoff Center for Occupational Medicine and Robert Goldberg, DO, President of the New York State Medical Society.
Jim joins on the heels of our own John Sciortino who recently completed his assignment as an Advisor to the ALF-CIO on the "Rocket Docket" Task Force. The Task Force will be meeting up to twice a week through this November. Thanks to Denis Hughes and the AFL-CIO for turning to the Workers' Comp Alliance for counsel in this very important Task Force. Good luck and thanks to Jim for taking on this important assignment.
- Gov. Spitzer Releases Workers' Compensation "Rocket Docket" Proposed Regulations
After receiving input from both the Business Council of New York State and the
