Letter to the editor: Laws must change to help injured workers

The past few years have been ones of extreme scrutiny on Workforce Safety Insurance, WSI Board members, lawmakers, the AG’s office, the governor and the Chamber of Commerce about WSI issues. All these agencies have had the attitude of hands-on control of WSI, the laws and any investigations into WSI. They have blatantly showed their disrespect to the voters of this state and have ignored any issue that has been questioned of them. The public finally showed its discontent for WSI executives, WSI Board members and others who have blocked WSI information. The voters showed this with the passage of Measure 4. Sixty-seven percent of the public openly voted for this to start a change, although lawmakers are already voting laws in to change Measure 4, and to keep up their secret club. The voters who voted for Measure 4 are the same people whom have had enough of WSI tactics, the questionable actions of WSI in the form of “Safety Grants” and other programs.

As one of hundreds of seriously injured workers, I have had the misfortune of having to deal with WSI and CorVel. These two together have openly prevented others and me from being able to support our families properly. I used to make $40,000 to $50,000 a year; now I will earn $8,000 as a telemarketer. This job barely exists in North Dakota. Although my paper work says I can be a “telephone sales representative,”check Job Service to see this job listing. There are a total of 18 telemarketing jobs statewide. My CorVel counselor stated there are 140 positions in this state; see if you can find them, I can’t.

The laws must be changed to give injured workers what they were promised in 1919. The agreement was injured workers would be given “sure and certain relief;” in exchange, workers would not sue their employers. WSI has reneged on this agreement by limiting benefits to two years for seriously injured workers, and forcing them into welfare.

My suggestion to everyone is contact your lawmakers and demand that they change the laws. Go to these sites to view more information and stories: www. northdecoder.com or www.iwofndadvocates.com/blog.

Michael J. Holmes

Marion, N.D.

Tags: wsi, workers, injuries, law, opinion