Liked Workers’

Comp coverage

To the Editor I am a compensation claims referee

(law judge) at the stateWorkersʼ Compensation Boardʼs Manhattan hearing point. Thanks for your coverage in the April

issue of PEFʼs aggressive challenge of the boardʼs proposed “Managed Adjudication Path” system. Other recent actions of the board and

the effect on PEF members and the injured workers of New York State bear watching. These include: • Unilateral cessation of downstate

conciliation meetings (held by PEF members), despite a continued statutory mandate; • Ordering inappropriately brief time

allotments for multi-witness trials, which will create dangerously tense hearing atmospheres; and • Mandating that judges summon

claimants by initial or by a number, rather than by name. This was rescinded after law judges resisted it. None of these actions assists law

judges in efficiently holding hearings and according due process. They all heighten work and tension for law judges, already operating with little writing time and striving hard to render justice, as are hundreds of PEF members at the board working under difficult circumstances.

STEPHEN L GOLDSTEIN Fort Lee, NJ

A Big

Thank You

The Communicator thanks the furlough rally photographers throughout the state whose photos appear in this issue:

JimAdsit, Therese Assalian, Irene Balanos, Sharen Barboza, Joseph Battista, Richard Dillard, Ken Dischel, Ed Dobrowski, Caroline Esposito, Sherry Halbrook, John Joel, Liz Kinne,

Hans Pennink, Bill Pike, Lisa Pulver, John Sansalone, Olubiyi Sehindemi, Vivian Street, Rick Tuers, Rich Vehlow, PaulWest, Peter Yurkewicz, and anyone we missed!

PEF Travel Monthly Special:

FREE Dining at Disney

• Book between May 3rd - Aug 14th

• Minimum stay of 5 nights between Aug 15th - Oct 2nd

• Quick service dining for the Value properties

• Plus Service dining for moderate properties or higher

For this and more travel specials go to:

www.buymbp.com/travelspecials

PEF Members Receive a 5%rebate on all Packages, Cruises, and Tours

PEF TRAVEL SERVICES

1168-70 Troy-Schenectady Rd. • Latham NY 12110

(518) 782-9045 • (800) 767-1840 Email:peftravel@pef.org • www.buymbp.com

Page 2—The Communicator June 2010 PEF Information Line: 1-800-553-2445

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