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March 14, 2013

THE PEOPLE SPEAK — Workers comp reform hurts workers

Anonymous Associated Press Thu Mar 14, 2013, 10:28 PM CDT

— Local 1000 represents grocery store and food production workers across Oklahoma, in particularly the Homeland stores in and around Muskogee.

The workers compensation reform under consideration in the Oklahoma legislature is bad for workers and bad for our state. The Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce, insurance companies, big business, and the GOP are excited about this bill and when that group agrees on anything it spells bad news for blue-collar Oklahomans.

The workers compensation legislation being debated at the Capitol will make it easier for employers to opt out of the worker’s compensation system, move worker’s injury cases to an administrative system run by political appointees, and award less in damages and disability claims. The proposed reforms do nothing to curb spiraling medical costs, but instead finds all the savings in taking money from injured workers — many of whom are the grocery store and food production workers we represent in Muskogee.

We agree that fraud and abuse need to be stamped out, but this legislation targets a fundamental worker protection without doing anything to guarantee these workers a fair hearing and fair recompense for an injury on the job. We urge Gov. Mary Fallin to veto the legislation and stand with Oklahoma’s blue-collar men and women.

RICKY BURRIS

President of the

United Food and

Commercial

Workers

Local 1000

Combine political

parties into one

Fellow Americans, are you tired of our Congress and Senate, Democrats and Republicans debating our lives away?

I have this idea, why not combine all parties into one party. When we vote, everyone would vote for one party, the American party. Then when they argued, it would all be within the same party, the American party. No shutting down the government. Thanks for listening.

AARON

WASHINGTON

Gore

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THE PEOPLE SPEAK — Workers comp reform hurts workers

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