WSI: A Human Rights Issue

To the Editor:

Every voter should become informed about the Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI) issue and monitor its revisions. Why? Because it’s all about people--people who were accidentally hurt while doing their jobs.

Though the Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI) was created to provide “sure and certain relief” to injured employees, that focus has been shifted from victim assistance to other priorities.

While casualties requiring minimal medical attention are adequately addressed by WSI, crippling injuries raise suspicion, cause contention, and often result in denial.

Thanks to Sylvan and Todd Loegering, a support group meets monthly to help the injured and to work for changes in the laws governing WSI. Meetings are open with details at:

Two Interim Legislative Committees also have open meetings. One deals with changing the laws; the other, reviewing denied cases. All three groups want to do what is best for the workers, and cooperation is evident among them. Fairness and accountability will be critical to any solutions.

Why all the fuss, though, if only 1% of all claims have been inappropriately denied? Because that mere 1% can translate into 200 people per year who must not only tolerate the pain of their injuries, but also contend with the frustration of trying to follow the inflexible rules of WSI and cope with the burden of being without work, without income, and without security. Strain on families increases and worry becomes overwhelming.

How the claimant was treated ripples wide. People suffer, WSI gets a black eye and North Dakota gets a reputation for treating its injured employees poorly.

Sr. Maris Stella Korb
Presentation Peace & Justice Center
Fargo