FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 1998
WCB needs to re-establish public trust
Action must be taken to ensure the "deck isn’t
stacked against injured workers," says AFL
EDMONTON – A spokesman for Alberta’s largest labour organization has added his voice to the growing chorus of critics calling on the Workers’ Compensation Board to re-examine the way it handles compensation claims. "The WCB is facing a crisis of public confidence," says Les Steel, Secretary Treasurer of the Alberta Federation of Labour. "Albertans in general – and injured workers in particular – no longer have confidence that the WCB is providing workers with the kind of protection they need and deserve. There is absolutely no doubt that serious steps must be taken to re-establish public trust." Steel’s comments came in the wake of a report released yesterday by the provincial Privacy Commissioner. The report concluded that, the WCB used "inaccurate and incomplete information" when it decided to reject a claim from an unnamed injured worker. The report also said the WCB inappropriately collected personal medical information on the claimant – information that was not relevant to the claim. "Our big fear is that this is not an isolated case," says Steel. "Over the past several years, it has become more and more difficult for injured workers to qualify for adequate compensation. We’re concerned that the case reviewed by the Commissioner is just the tip of the iceberg. We think that many other claims are being rejected based on inaccurate and incomplete information." In order to re-establish public trust in the system, Steel says the WCB and the provincial government should do two things. First, he says a public inquiry should be organized to determine whether the complaint reviewed by the Privacy Commissioner is an isolated case or an example of a system-wide problem. Second, Steel suggested that the provincial government establish an independent panel to review the files of other injured workers who feel their case files have been mishandled. "It won’t be enough to conduct an internal review," says Steel. "The issue has to be dealt with openly and with full public scrutiny. That’s the only way that injured workers can be satisfied that the deck isn’t being purposefully stacked against them." Steel says he will also meet with the two union representatives who sit on the WCB’s Board of Directors and urge them to bring up the AFL’s concerns and suggestions at the next board meeting. "This is the third time in two years that the Privacy Commissioner has ruled that the WCB has handled information in claimant files inappropriately. This is obviously a serious problem – a problem that should be dealt with thoroughly and quickly."
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