Unions rally against attack on WorkCover

By Michael Bull and Bronwen Beechey

MELBOURNE -- More than 4000 construction workers rallied on October 14 in opposition to the Kennett government's proposed changes to the WorkCover occupational health and safety scheme. The rally, called by the Victorian Trades Hall Council, was also attended by other unions.

The changes attack the rights of victims of workplace accidents. Weekly benefits are to be cut retrospectively; payments for the seriously injured will be reduced by 15%, if not terminated. All those on benefits for 13 weeks or longer will have payments stopped or reduced.

Payments will be set according to the percentage of damage to the injured worker, using guidelines set by the American Medical Association; a serious injury is defined as 30% impairment.

Amputation of a leg below the knee is defined as 28% impairment, loss of an eye as 24%, and asbestosis preventing work as 25%. Injured workers with a less than 10% impairment rating will receive no payments.

Access to independent review will be restricted; government-appointed doctors will decide compensation. Bureaucrats will be given more power to decide cases. Errors by doctors cannot be appealed.

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union Construction Division secretary Martin Kingham told the rally about the death the previous week of a building worker.

Andy Bodus was killed instantly when a five tonne concrete panel fell on him. Under the proposed changes, his family will not be able to sue for damages. Any WorkCover payment will come in monthly instalments, thus removing their right to claim for Social Security benefits.

After observing a minute's silence for workers killed on building sites this year, the construction workers voted to continue the strike for an extra day. A mass rally is planned to coincide with the presentation of the WorkCover bill to parliament in mid-November.

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