Community Corner

Opponents of Workers Comp Reform Bill Rally in Echo Park

About a hundred people spent several hours along sidewalks near State Senator Kevin DeLeon's office in Echo Park.

The sidewalk along the south side of the 1800 block of Sunset was crowded early Wednesday afternoon, surprising folks emerging from and restaurants after lunch.

About a hundred demonstrators were chanting and urging cars to honk in opposition to SB 863, authored by state senator Kevin DeLeon, whose office is at 1808 Sunset.

The bill, which awaits legislative approval in Sacramento, would make changes to the workers' compensation system--in particular the way workers are compensated for injuries.

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According to some, the law is opposed by attorneys, but supported by labor and business, especially bigger employers.

The rally outside the senator's office Wednesday was organized by Voters Injured at Work.

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A black SUV was dispensing water and juice to help demonstrators beat the heat.

Those we talked to felt SB 863 would make it harder for injured workers to get both treatment and compensation.

They also felt it would disproportionately affect Latinos, who do not always have health coverage in the first place.

According to the Eastsider LA, Senator DeLeon released a press release later in the day saying that:

It is clear that the profiteers behind the existing system have orchestrated this in order to hold on to a broken system that benefits them at the injured workers’ expense.

Opponents, meanwhile, claim that the law was written in "secret" and will mean the loss of jobs for doctors and other healthcare workers.


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