Workers comp reform overdue

In response to the “Is workers comp broken” article (Oct. 20): Of course, it's broken.

The company doctor is beholden only to the employer and insurance company and could not care less about any injured employee. His job is to patch them up good enough to plug them back into the work force whether they're ready or not. All designed to save premiums and insurance costs for his bosses and a future avenue for termination.

When organized labor suggests changes in the law, big business runs screaming to their lobbyists to keep bills bottled up in legislative committees. They wouldn't dare let the issue get out of committee for floor debate because all labor (union and non-union) would see what an albatross this 100-year-old law really is.

Legislative change is long overdue, including the way workman's comp premiums are assessed. The Legislature needs to draft a bill stipulating workman's comp premiums be assessed on hours worked rather than wages earned along with choice of doctors and other pertinent matters in the law. This would give all contractors, union and non-union, bidding the same work a level playing field.

Gov. Terry Branstad and his supporters would vehemently oppose this as they do project labor agreements, because if approved the political contributors from non-union supporters would dry up.

Philip L. Kraft

Cedar Rapids