[GPCA Updates] GPCA NEWS ADVISORY: Reported suicides of injured workers mark ‘crisis' in Workers' Comp system

[Green Party of California Updates]

                 News Advisory
           THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
             http://www.cagreens.org


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Thursday, August 3, 2006



Reported suicides of injured workers mark ‘crisis'
in Workers' Comp system, charge Green Party candidates,
who call for firing of Dept. of Insurance fraud chief for ‘bias' 

SACRAMENTO (August 3, 2006) – Reported suicides of injured Californian
workers because of failures in the Workers' Compensation system led Green
Party candidates for state office to call for major reforms – and the
firing of a key department chief.

Green Party Insurance Commissioner candidate Larry Cafiero and Green Party
gubernatorial candidate Peter Camejo joined disabled workers at a rally –
sponsored by California Coalition For Workers Memorial Day – at the
Insurance Commissioner's office this week to call for needed and immediate
changes in the system.

Legislation in 2004, sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans at the
behest of the insurance injury – a major contributor to the campaigns of
the major parties, has been branded by critics as a major reason those
injured on the job do not receive care needed.

"That legislation has led to a crisis in Workers' Compensation and is now
bearing a bitter fruit for injured workers, while insurance companies reap
a lush harvest of increased profits," said Cafiero, who has been extremely
critical of current Lt. Governor and Insurance Commissioner candidate Cruz
Bustamante (D) for receiving large contributions from the insurance
industry.

Cafiero said a primary example of the bias in the system against workers
and for business is the California Fraud Assessment Commission (CFAC),
which is chaired by a corporate executive who oversees insurance needs of
an employer.

"Under William Zachry, who works for Safeway, the CFAC has displayed
favoritism to insurance companies and employers over injured workers. Even
Zachry's own employer, Safeway, has benefitted from his commission's
decisions," charged Cafiero.

He said Zachry should be immediately "removed" from his position from the
CFAC, noting that the "conflict of interest is unacceptable at any level in
the Dept. of Insurance, and must not be tolerated either by this
administration or the next Insurance Commissioner."