WSI is Still Broken
Make no mistake, Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI) is still in need of a major overhaul. With elections coming soon, voting YES on Measure 4, will be a small but significant step toward much needed change in this ailing agency.
Apologists for WSI, claim that the agency and supportive legislators have “gone out of their way” to look into claims that the agency is unfairly denying claims. I say, they have gone out of their way to ignore the writing on the wall. People of North Dakota are fed up with the adversarial and corrupt antics at WSI.
Injured workers continue to assert that their claims are unfairly denied. This accusation is bolstered by the statement of Rep. Bill Amerman, D-Forman, in a recent Forum article (October 23, 2008) that his constituents “frequently asked him to sit with them in their WSI case hearings”.
In an April 11, 2008 article, the Forum also published findings from the Marsh Report (commissioned by WSI) showing that “an appendix to the report determined 14 percent of denied claims one in seven were inappropriate”.
In a relatively short period of time we have seen WSI CEO, Sandy Blunt charged with felonies; three WSI employees fired after blowing the whistle on allegedly illegal activities; two law suits by the fired by whistle blowers; woeful audit reports showing the agency abused funds; and numerous complaints by North Dakota’s citizens that they are being unfairly denied benefits.
Despite all the talk from Bruce Furness and legislators about improvements at WSI, all we hear/see in the news lately is Deny, Deny, Deny. Legislators, Furness, and the Governor have happily turned a blind eye and deaf ears to the horrors people suffer. For the most part, the media has failed to reach people affected by the agency for their comment. This has left those on the short end of the stick feeling frustrated and unheard.
The truth for injured workers is quite different than it has been painted in the media. People of North Dakota who have dealt with WSI have a different more sinister perception of the agency. Far too many have suffered at the hands of WSI feeling shamed and rejected in their time of need. Too many complaints about the agency have surfaced for WSI and its champions to keep selling us a false bill of goods. We cannot all be suffering from some shared delusion.
There is a way to make our voices count for something. You can vote YES on Measure 4 and make sure that long needed accountability begins. You can vote YES on Measure 4 and restore a fair and impartial review of disputed claims. You can vote YES on Measure 4 and ensure more job security for WSI employees. You can vote YES on Measure 4 and require WSI to abide by decisions and recommendations of judges presiding over disputed claims.
