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Workers Day Memorial Event with the Contra Costa Central Labor Council
Approximately 70 people attended a Workers Day Memorial event on April 28, 2006 outside the C & H Sugar Factory in Crockett. The event was sponsored by the Contra Costa Central Labor Council, Congressmen George Miller, Supervisors Mark DeSaulnier and John Gioia, injured members of Sugar Workers Local 1 and ILWU Local 6. The event was to commemorate the OSH Act and honor workers injured or killed on-the-job. VIAW was represented by Nadia Prescott, one of the VIAW Ambassadors, who spoke about her experience as an injured worker, and how it has impacted the last five years of her life. She spoke about why she became involved with VIAW and encouraged all those in attendance to support VIAW and our work to protect injured workers. Politicians also came out to support the event. Assemblyman Miller had been due to speak at the events but was unwell. He sent a representative from his office was in attendance who read a letter from the assemblyman in support of injured workers. State Senator Tom Torlakson was in attendance, walking (marching) with injured workers, and speaking to the crowd. Other speakers included Dick Zampa, Ironworkers 378 who fell from Golden Gate Bridge during construction, 1935 – pre OSH, and Mark Gearhart, of the California Applicants Attorney who updated the crowd on the status of Workers Compensation.
5/16/2006
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VIAW Photo 13
Angie Wei, legislative director for the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, told the news conference, "The new permanent disability schedule violates both the spirit and the letter of SB 899. These regulations do not accurately reflect an injured worker's lost future earnings, and result in drastic cuts to permanent disability compensation. The governor promised that benefits would not be taken away from truly injured workers, but that is what this regulation does."
4/7/2005
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VIAW Photo 12
Peter Balestrieri, a store manager at Shamrock Materials in Cotati, fell and injured his back, neck, hips and knees. Peter would see his disability rating of 57%, meriting an award of $54,782, reduced to 30%, meriting an award of $21,420, a reduction of 61%. "My work injury has cost our family dearly. We have lost so much income that we are struggling to keep our home, which we have done only due to my wife's employment. I am the father of two kids, and I lay awake at night wondering how we'll survive. This is not what the governor promised. The workers' compensation system ahs not been fixed, and this new permanent disability schedule will harm my family and thousands of others like us."
4/7/2005
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VIAW Photo 11
VIAW Photo 11
4/7/2005
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VIAW Photo 10
VIAW Photo 10
4/7/2005
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VIAW Photo 9
VIAW Photo 9
4/7/2005
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VIAW Photo 8
Marie Fanelli, a salesperson at Nordstrom's and a teacher, suffered a back injury at work. The new schedule would reduce her disability rating from 52% to 18%, and her Permanent Disability compensation from $52,,000 to $11,500, a reduction of 78%. "How can the governor justify taking away this compensation for my permanent disabilities from my work injury? asked Fanelli. "Gov. Schwarzenegger promised that he wouldn't take benefits away from injured workers, but that is just what he is doing. How should I explain his broken promise to my children?"
4/7/2005
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VIAW Photo 7
VIAW Photo 7
4/7/2005
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