Why the Mark Janus Victory is a win for Union Members

Anyone that is a member of an Illinois Union might think the Mark Janus decision is a loss. Wrong. The Mark Janus decision is a much-needed reality check for all Unions to wake the fuck up and get their shit together. Sorry about the tough guy language but these Union Goons have milked the fat for far too long.
While many Union Managers and Business agents have gone to bat for their members, most are greedy and lazy. Most members are unaware of their high pay and benefits. Union agents have not done their duty to aggressively protect members and have gotten far to close with management. Many City of Chicago employees are falsely accused of behavior infractions, are disciplined and have Union Agents at meeting doing nothing. In almost every case, the agents do not provide lawyers to fight unfair charges. One agent went to my hearing drunk and failed to me protect at all.
Many of the Union Goons are arrogant, disrespectful, and full of self-worth. They talk down to members and do nothing. The agents are always available to make overtime at meetings, drink and drive union cars, and enjoy untold benefits. Most agents live an unhealthy life.
Now, many agents are going to have to provide a service to members and do their job. The old days of cuddling up to politicians, hiring their unqualified family members are over. If you would see Chicago Union agents tripping over themselves to accommodate the alderman and Mayor, you would be embarrassed. Chicago union goons would also become too closely associated with Judges and their campaigns. Maybe now, agents are going to make sure their members are not permanently crippled in dangerous ditches anymore. Maybe agents will stop by jobsites and make sure their members needs are met. This could be a great time for union agents to learn their respective trades and become more valuable to society. Maybe the union goons will stop pissing money away on silly expenses and have more respect for the people paying their way.
I told all of you years ago this day would arrive. The Unions kept screwing with people and they got their payback. This could cause union agents to retaliate against workers that refuse to pay. Many Union members in Chicago pay thousands and thousands of dollars in yearly fees and get nothing in return. There is big money at stake.
Some Unions provide a great service to their industries. The Union training programs are the best in the world. The benefits come at a high price but are well deserved. I hope the Union goons are aware this day would arrive just like I said it would. Rauner is a maggot that is destroying the Illinois Workers Compensation System, memos to arbitrators include demands to shortchange the injured. Now the Unions need to get together and fight for their lives. If the Unions fail to change they are doomed. If the unions keep the Illinois Labor Board cases for their friends and family, the members will not pay.
Work hard and faithfully and you will enjoy the benefits and respect of your customers.

Chicago Department of Water Managment Sean Walsh last day

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Today was sad for the City of Chicago as Sean Walsh walked away from the Department of Water Management. The second highest educated collage Plumber at the City packed his bags and is on to better opportunities. Sean Walsh served his country during the recent war in Iraq. The Chicago Plumbers Union has a picture of that in their bookcases. Sean Walsh was a hard worker and brought a work ethic needed at the Department of Water Management.

I enjoyed working for Sean and found him to know what needed to be done. Sean acted with confidence and made good decisions. Sean will be a major loss to the City of Chicago. I contacted the Mayor’s office and Rahm said he will investigate it. Just about one year ago, several Department of Water Management employees working at the Jardine Plant told me Sean was the most qualified person for the Superintendent position and the Commissioner refused to interview Sean. Rahm Emanuel promised at the Shakman release hearings to have honest promotions. Chicago will never learn to do thing the right way and continue to promote friends the Mayor wants to reward for politics. Keep paying those sky-high water bills Chicago, it will be worse soon.

Special thanks again to Sean Walsh for his hard work and dedication to the Department of Water Management. You will be missed. Best of luck in your new career. Remove Rahm Emanuel from office and we will keep good employees.

Illinois Workers Compensation Commission Conflict of Interest Meetings

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On Wednesday, June 20, 2018, many of the Illinois dirty crooks gathered to slice up the Illinois Workers’ Compensation pie for their own selfish use. Back in the old days, the crooks kept to themselves, sliced up the cash, and went on their way. The new breed of thieves is much worse and they steal from people with no way to defend themselves. Lawyers were a noble profession but the worst scum practice workers compensation. No doubt, Illinois workers’ compensation lawyers include some of the sleaziest dirtbags known to man.
The lawyers that practice workers compensation in Chicago includes lawyers part of the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association. Some of these lawyers cut deals that are not in their client’s best interest. Some of these lawyers refuse to file paperwork to reinstate benefits, promise the moon to get the business, and then sit on the case starving their clients. As soon as some of these lawyers get the signature from the injured worker, they feel like their job is done. They wait until a client is starved and then willing to take a cheap settlement far below value. The lawyers are willing to sign off on scam lawsuit loans because they get a client off their back for a long time. Some of these loans are 36-39 percent annual percentage rate loans compounded every six months. What kind of a shit lawyer would encourage a client to take these loans? By the time the client gets a settlement, nothing is left. Some lawyers get a percentage of the proceeds of the loans, mainly in Chicago. If you attempt to obtain a new lawyer, the commission lists the prior lawyer name so they can contol the case from start to finish. It is all about the final cut.
One of the last meetings was an Appellate Court Luncheon. People could ask Justices questions about current trends in workers compensation. The lawyers at the University Club enjoyed a nice meal provided by contractors that make millions screwing injured workers and provided fraudulent medical reports that are so false as to be a joke. The lawyers on hand were asking silly questions to gain favor from the Justices. It was embarrassing.
The State of Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission staff, Arbitrators, and Commissioner enjoyed a $100.00-dollar freebee. It is a major embarrassment, these staff members are rubbing elbows, talking about cases, sharing envelopes, vacation homes with the same people that they are policing. That is like the prisoners sharing the jail with the wardens. Government employees responsible for protecting injured workers are violating the open meetings act. These Government employees should not be in a meeting that cannot be enjoyed by the public.
Governor Rauner has made a joke of the workers’ compensation commission. One IWCC workers joked, “the niggers ruined a good thing”. “remove their people cases and the system will work again”. Almost every case heard by the Chicago Illinois Workers Compensation Commission is fixed. Some lawyers are not held accountable for being unprepared. Many lawyers collude with other lawyers to fix cases and make fees at the end of the case. Some lawyers go to court ill prepared with no medical records. Now, the IWCC is so screwed up, injured workers have no idea when their cases will be heard. The online notification system is so lacking lawyers lie to their clients on when hearings occur. This is not a mistake, the Arbitrators do not want injured workers around, so they will see how messy the IWCC is run.
The fix is in and the injured workers suffer. You can run, but you cannot hide.

Crisis looms in Illinois workers’ compensation system thanks to Emanuel and Alderman Burke

Rahm Emanuel Picture.jpg The News-Gazette

By DR. DAVID FLETCHER

There’s a crisis looming in our state’s workers’ compensation system. If allowed to fester, it will keep workers from receiving timely medical treatment for workplace injuries. It will delay workers’ recoveries and their return to their jobs. And it will end up costing more for the very businesses and insurers seeking efficiencies in the system.

This crisis is not one you’ve heard about from the business and insurance communities. It’s a crisis created by their failure to implement laws that have been on the books in Illinois for more than a decade.

As doctors who care for workers compensation patients, here are our concerns: Illinois law spells out the right for medical professionals to receive prompt payment for the care we give to patients with workplace injuries.

Just like any other business or profession, we need to be paid for that care we give, so that we can compensate our employees and keep open the doors of our medical practices.

Yet, many Illinois workers’ compensation insurers completely ignore the prompt payment law. To date, there has been no remedy for doctors and other caregivers who remain unpaid for months and months at a time.

Furthermore, state law mandates that insurers accept electronic billing and documentation for workers’ compensation claims. This expedites the process.

Yet, many insist on an obsolete paper-based medical billing system, which delays medical care to injured workers and wastes resources.

Add to this bleak reality a recent, alarming increase in delayed payments for already-approved workers’ compensation medical care claims. The result is more and more physicians unable or unwilling to treat injured workers.

Since 2005, the Workers’ Compensation Act has allowed medical professionals a late interest penalty for approved workers’ compensation medical care.

Yet there is no way for doctors and others to enforce or collect this interest.

Even if the workers’ compensation insurer approves care for an injured worker, it can and often delays payment for the medical treatment rendered. These delays can last for years.

A recent court ruling found that medical professionals can’t even go to court to collect this interest.

Since the court decision, these payment delays have worsened to the point of doctors dropping out of the system.

What’s lost in the current debate on workers’ compensation policy is that medical professionals — the physicians, surgeons, hospitals and specialists — actually provide the care that supports our entire system.

Medical professionals are the ones who get injured employees back to work, reduce employer costs for time off and long-term injuries and work with employers to prevent work-related accidents from even happening in the first place.

We are often blamed for the system’s ills, even though we are in a unique position to make that system function.

When workers are hurt on the job, they need timely access to dedicated physicians, surgeons and specialists to treat their injuries. We in the medical community stand ready with solutions to the problems that are threatening the health of our workers’ compensation system.

It’s time to pass legislation that forces workers’ compensation insurers to start following the law. The alternative is having doctors and care centers rush to the exits.

John Maszinski, who works for the Illinois State Medical Society, submitted this piece by Dr. David Fletcher of Champaign.