ACC changes dangerous for finance industry workers

For immediate release
19 November 2009

ACC changes dangerous for finance industry workers warns Finsec

Bank workers’ union Finsec is warning that proposed changes to ACC will be dangerous for finance industry workers, in their submission to the select committee today.

“The changes present a real threat to the coverage of workers with gradual process injuries or OOS,” said Finsec General Secretary Andrew Casidy. “These injuries are common in the banks and raising the bar for their rehabilitation could be devastating for those affected.”

“This is coupled with other negatives for workers - the fact that pre-injury income no longer has to be taken into account, and a lower threshold of vocational independence of 30 hours per week represent a significant attack on ACC as we know it,” said Casidy. “This all seems to be in the name of cost cutting to achieve full funding of the system, a ludicrous goal in the current economic environment.”

Finsec is giving the committee a case study of a fictional bank worker experiencing the sharp end of the changes. The example shows that even if they were able to retain ACC coverage, and be rehabilitated to be able to work in another job, they could still lose 43% of their pre-injury income due to changes proposed in the Bill.

“This demonstrates how workers could suffer tremendously under these changes, which in our view are simply unnecessary,” said Casidy.

ENDS

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