Walmart, Lowe's, Safeway, and Nordstrom Are Bankrolling a Nationwide Campaign to Gut Workers' Comp

[swag]

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/03/arawc-walmart-campaign-against-workers-compensation

by Molly Redden

Nearly two dozen major corporations, including Walmart, Nordstrom, and Safeway, are bankrolling a quiet, multistate lobbying effort to make it harder for workers hurt on the job to access lost wages and medical care—the benefits collectively known as workers' compensation.

The companies have financed a lobbying group, the Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers' Compensation (ARAWC), that has already helped write legislation in one state, Tennessee. Richard Evans, the group's executive director, told an insurance journal in November that the corporations ultimately want to change workers' comp laws in all 50 states. Lowe's, Macy's, Kohl's, Sysco Food Services, and several insurance companies are also part of the year-old effort.

Laws mandating workers' comp arose at the turn of the 20th century as a bargain between employees and employers: If a worker suffered an injury on the job, the employer would pay his medical bills and part of his wages while he recovered. In exchange, the worker gave up his right to sue for negligence.

ARAWC's mission is to pass laws allowing private employers to opt out of the traditional workers' compensation plans that almost every state requires businesses to carry. Employers that opt out would still be compelled to purchase workers' comp plans. But they would be allowed to write their own rules governing when, for how long, and for which reasons an injured employee can access medical benefits and wages.

. . . more

[niyad]

1. well, that list certainly curtails my shopping. already boycotting wal-mart.

sickened about lowe's (I thought they were slightly better than home depot), and dillard's and nordstrom?

Current Members
Founding/Full Members

AmWINS
Big Lots Stores, Inc.
Brookdale
Combined Group
Dillard’s, Inc.
J. B. Hunt Transport, Inc.
Kohl’s Department Stores
Lowe’s Companies, Inc.



Nordstrom, Inc.
Macy’s
PartnerSource
Providence Risk & Insurance Services, Inc.
Safeway, Inc.
Sedgwick, Inc.
Sysco Corporation
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.


Sponsoring Members

Great American Insurance Company
Whole Foods


Associate Members

Brinker International
Highway Transport Logistics
Midlands


Friend Members

Daryl Flood Relocation & Logistics
OccMD

[stillwaiting]

4. I really think it's just time to not spend money at big national chains period.

Except for Costco. And The Container Store.

Any others?

I think it might be better for a few different reasons (all in pursuit of liberal/progressive values) to shop second-hand as much as possible.

We can't keep giving our money to these organizations that are ACTIVELY working against society's well-being.

[niyad]

6. I have been part of the "buy nothing new" movement for a long time. thrift stores and locally

owned shops are my preference.

[progressoid]

10. Lowes, Home Depot and Menards are all screwing us.

But that's pretty much the only options for home improvement around here.

[niyad]

21. I am thankful for my local Ace hardware store.

[valerief]

2. Life without unions...

[jomin41]

3. arawc.org

There is a contact form on the site. I encourage all to let them know how you feel about this.

[niyad]

5. welcome to du. I read the mission statement--so sickening.

About Us

We are a national organization formed to advocate for better medical outcomes to injured workers and give employers a chioce (sic) in how they will manage employee benefits.

one would think that, as much money as they have, they could afford a proof-reader.

I will certainly be contacting them.

[BrotherIvan]

7. Fuckers

And of course Whole Foods is on the list. They aren't selling to rwnjs either. I wish people would wakeup about that hateful company.

I see it's mostly retailers, some of which, like Macy's and Dillard's will be gone in a decade. Why? Because they don't hire enough people to give any customer service and their stores look like crumbling wrecks--gotta keep the stock price up you know! Why not just shop online? Well, let's put our foot on their asses and shove them out the door.

[blkmusclmachine]

17. Whole Foods has been a bad actor for awhile now. All my opinion, of course.

[Pakid]

8. At what point will the american people wake up to the fact

that big business and the Republicans are putting the shaft to them more and more with each passing day? Will they wake up before it to late or will they never wake up. So far never waking up would be my bet.

[blkmusclmachine]

18. GO BACK TO SLEEP, LITTLE SHEEP. http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_ho4sIkoiNo/hqdefault.jpg

[Praek3]

9. Corporations "organizing" against us

I have never understood why so many people have been against labor unions. Labor rights ARE human rights.

These corporations are organized against us.

You could say they have joined together in a unionized effort to swindle, circumvent, and destroy. All for their profit.

[blkmusclmachine]

19. Labor represents the only known power the 99% have against the 1%. So, obviously, they're against it

[dbackjon]

11. Sickening. Bastards want us to go back to the 19th Century

[appalachiablue]

12. And Party like it's 1895, for them. With so many smaller businesses closed or too far away

we are at their mercy except for those lucky enough to access alternatives like indys and thrift shops. Many have no other choice. Nordys surprises me, online shopping impact. Who didn't see this coming, or care-

[blkmusclmachine]

20. Corporate Fascism. Just like the TransPacific Partnership (TPP) that Obama's been pushing so hard.

Obama found his comfy shoes for THAT!

[Hestia]

13. Does this mean, though, that if you are hurt you can sue? Isn't that the natural outcome for not

participating in the state workman's comp? In giving up/in to one, you gain in the other?

[The Stranger]

14. I didn't know there was anything left to gut.

[appalachiablue]

15. FDR & Montgomery Ward Chairman-1944 Property Seizure over Labor Agreements

"To Hell with the government!", April 1944, Sewell Avery, Chairman, Montgomery Ward

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7557.html

[blkmusclmachine]

16. Hillary was on the Board of Directors at Wal Mart just before going to Washington DC.

[raven mad]

22. Only part of which I don't shop there.

Except Safeway - we have a total of two grocery chains here, Safeway and Fred Meyer. Wal Mart isn't even in my vocabulary. I have to go with the money flow, and sometimes Safeway wins, but only on sale items.