WW8-30-16 Farmworkers 8 Hour Day Attack On Workers Comp by WorkWeek Radio

WorkWeek Radio on KPFA Pacifica hears about the California legislature vote for an 8 hours day and overtime for agricultural workers from Al Rojas a founder of the United Farm Workers Of America. He also discusses the role of the proposed Comprehensive Immigration Reform that would allow indentured workers to be brought into the fields.
Next WorkWeek looks at the growing crisis for injured workers in the California workers compensation system.So called reforms supported by politicians, the insurance industry and the leadership of the AFL-CIO have allowed the outsourcing by a company called Maximus. It was paid $40 million in an no bid contract to make determinations of whether workers were entitled to medical care. These were also done by anonymous doctors who do not have to be licensed in California. Tens of thousands of injured workers have been denied critically necessary medical treatment which has destroyed workers and benefited the insurance industry. It has also led to increasing use of opiates and addictions by injured workers who are not getting treatment.
Participants included Alice Robinson who is a member of OPEIU Local 29, Barb Clark and injured nurse practitioner, Dr. Robert Weinmann, a workers comp doctor and former AFSCME Local 206 Union Of American Physicians and Dentists president and Dr. Larry Rose the former Medical Director of Cal OSHA
Additional media:
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Injured-Workers-Face-Stacked-Deck-During-Workers-Comp-Appeals-Process-Critics-Say--391202731.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/the-flawed-system-that-allows-companies-to-make-millions-off-the-injured/2015/12/27/cce16434-9212-11e5-a2d6-f57908580b1f_story.html?tid=sm_fb
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/Workers-Comp-Drags-Out-Medical-Care-Injured-Workers-and-their-Doctors-Say-390979441.html
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/MAXIMUS,_Inc.
http://www.calaborfed.org/index.php/site/page/sb_863_landmark_workers_comp_reform_to_support_injured_workers
http://www.calaborfed.org/index.php/page/sb_863_real_workers_comp_reform_to_reduce_costs_and_help_injured_workers
https://www.workcompcentral.com/columns/show/id/14caa0e496fa5f167278810758d7b4d4fb27e506
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workweek@kpfa.org
Production of WorkWeek Radio