KPLU Local News
(2009-09-22)
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OLYMPIA, WA
(N3) -
Washington's business lobby is demanding reforms to the state's workers' compensation system. This, after the Department of Labor and Industries proposed a significant rate hike for 2010. KPLU's Austin Jenkins reports.
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Originally Labor and Industries was talking about a 15 to 20 premium increase. That's because Washington's workers compensation fund has taken a billion dollar hit in the last year - due to higher costs and investment losses. But in the end, a double-digit increase during a down economy was politically untenable. So L&I is proposing a more modest 7-point-6 percent increase starting in January. Even so Kris Tefft with the Association of Washington Business says it's time to do something about the rising cost of taking care of injured workers.
Kris Tefft, AWB: "Probably the single most effective tool in other state's tool boxes for addressing long-term claims is offering the option of entering into a settlement agreement to give a lump sum or a structured annuity to an injured worker to resolve the claim."
The Washington State Labor Council strongly opposes that idea. But says it's open to discussing ways to rein-in costs. I'm Austin Jenkins in Olympia. © Copyright 2012, N3
