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COLUMN:
Let the Unshackling Begin!
Darlene Kerr | Fri, April 6th, 2007

To our members, I say “well done”…for your years of perseverance and effective advocacy for workers’ compensation reform.  On March 6, the New York State Assembly and Senate passed the workers’ compensation package unanimously in both houses, the same day as the Unshackle rally in Albany.  On March 13 the governor signed the bill into law with legislative leaders and representatives of many chambers of commerce, including the Greater Syracuse Chamber, present.

The reform package enacted is comprehensive and balanced with a very common sense and inclusive approach going forward to full implementation.  Employers will realize a 15 percent premium reduction, with additional savings in assessments and administrative streamlining.  Injured workers will see benefits rise significantly over the next three years, with eventual indexing to two thirds of the state average wage and experience quicker medical treatment and approvals.

Workers’ compensation costs in New York state have risen to the second highest in the nation, with the average claim at $16,000, 86 percent above the national average. At the same time, benefit levels for injured workers remained far too low.  For the past decade business owners, employers and business organization have pushed for significant reform that would decrease employer costs and raise benefits for employees. 

Over the past decade, both houses of the State Legislature have introduced numerous bills to reform our compensation system, in particular last year’s Unshackle Upstate bill sponsored by Assemblyman Joseph Morelle and Senator James Alesi.  The powerful voice of the Unshackle Upstate business coalition lists workers’ comp as Number One on the seven item agenda to reinvigorate the Upstate economy. 

This year’s effort and negotiations took place in a new landscape created by Governor Spitzer, but engaging representatives of all the various interests in the workers’ compensation system. Three months of work, negotiations, and leadership focused on the desired outcome culminated in this year’s final successful result.  A summary of the key provisions of the Workers’ Comp reform agreement can be found on our Web site at SyracuseChamber.com.

On behalf of our membership and their employees, I want to congratulate Governor Spitzer, leaders of the Assembly and Senate, Denis Hughes of the AFL-CIO, Ken Adams of the Business Council of NYS and our Central New York representatives.  The business community is grateful and recognizes your role in this major accomplishment.

There is much more to be done.  There are still six very important reforms that need to be accomplished on the Unshackle Upstate Legislative Agenda, - but it feels so good to declare victory on all sides for this critical agenda item for the Upstate economy.

So now we can proudly declare that workers’ compensation costs in New York are no longer as much of an obstacle for our economy and that we will be competitive in this key cost of doing business. 

Now, with your help, it’s on to the next issues as the Unshackling continues!

Thank you for all you do!







Main offices:
5910 Firestone Drive Syracuse, New York 13206
Phone, Fax and Email:
(315) 434-1988 (315) 434-8883 jmartell@cnylink.com