Fusco Addresses Joint Confab of LI Federtation of Labor and NY State Trial Lawyers

A historic meeting was held at IBEW 25 on February 8th, 2006 when a delegation from the New York State Trial Lawyers met with a delegation from the Long Island Federation of Labor. Chris O'Hara counsel for the LI Federation of Labor called upon Vic Fusco to discuss the negative ramifications of Governor Pataki's proposals to cut back on Worker's Compensation benefits in New York, while calling his bill a "rate increase." Fusco explained that the bill limits an injured worker's free choice of physician, pharmacy and diagnostic facility, all of which portend "bad medicine" by interfering with treating doctors' relationships with their patients. He noted that permanent benefits will be cut by 50%, that the so called rate increase does not even keep pace with inflation, and still would leave New York as one of the states with the nation's lowest rates of workers' compensation benefits -- yet having the highest cost of living. The two organizations pledged to work closely together to fight against laws which are encroaching upon the rights of injured workers. More meetings are planned as are legislative action campaigns.