Document zzQpJNn8bg7DyKB7gak0kMmD0

STATE AND D. C. AFT- AFFILIATED WITH NATIONAL AFL-CIO PaliUMIIT UWMINIC H- PIHH1WI fmr Vicc.FwikiotMr TM MM M. MAObCr SCCOMU VlCC.PMiMIOCHr HOBkMT . PITIMMM iiiUMiTaMr-TtKMUaiM MUWUO 4k. MOKk&M 93 Main Street (2nd Floor) Annapolis, Maryland 21401 269-1724 Balto. 752-5211 -- Cope 269-5744 *23-4 October 31, 1980 Hr. Warren Smith, .Secretary-Treasurer, Ohio AW.-CI0 President, WISH Columbus, Ohio 43215 Ai* Vi<;t.Ki40nij OCLLKMT ALLCM LAML W. 0AMNtf. MtAVKMW WALllM 4. MOMALP H CanCILLa (OWAM J. COUMTMCY MAitOANcrA CMAMrrof* CtfMCAT CMOfOOT MACNACL CllACA LHANMLy MAMMAL OjoOmMnAoU. MjtArrMtCmt c* J. Ha ftLLY MCMMV HOCUClH, AM. UOMAtU MCALLILTLM /4CR MCCONRU C. W> MCMCMAtf RAVMONO MtfYZ MLTIsfl MAOALM 6CMAIO MtCO&CMUL CWCCMC 'LMICM PAtMlCK 'MtiM FMIMO t*M VLITTI MfMMCTH MATTMCW IIOMiA HAMOLO MOOf LAMV lavtla WILLIAM H. bIH ML WAVML O, LMlTtt JO&CMM TALCHlCO ITAMUY XOHICK Dcuc Hr. Warrtin; HO" 1 recently heard about the WISH project on Worker's Compensation, and am very interested to learn whether Maryland could become one of the target states for the training program. From what I can tell, we would be an ideul candidate for such u pcop,rum. Maryland is a heavily industrialized state, particularly the urea In and around liultimore. We have not ouly the Bethlehem Steel mills ut Sparrows Point employing kbout 18,000 workers, but many smaller steel companies as well as a lurge chemical industry, several shipyards, a large CM assembly plant, etc. Our workers' compensation law, like that in many other states, makes it very difficult for a worker with an occupational disease to win a claim. Out of the 159 claims for which decisions were made in 1980, 502 were denied dismisses or defer red. Despite the presence of several large shipbuilding and repair yards in Baltimore, only 54 claims were filed last year for asbestosis out of about 500 total claims. Four of these have been awarded so far. Clearly, there art* two aspects to the problem, Ono Id that workers aren't filing for occupational disease. Either they don't know they are eligible or they get discouraged by the system with its delays, litigation, and often defeat. Those that do file, especially for chronic diseases, frequently lose. We think this situation could be improved if workers knew their rights and know what kind of expertise they needed to win a claim. A training program such as yu are planning to develop would greatly assist us. We already have good contacts with technical peoplo to help in such a project. These include the Workers' Clinic at Baltimore City Hospitals and the Maryland Committee on OteupaUocWil Safety and Health (MaryCOSU), an organization of labor Unions, health and legal professionals who do educational and service work for local unions in the Baltimore area around health and safety. This group has also been active in the legislative area and was largely r**** sponsible fur the recently passed bill reforming the occupational disease section of | BB 0000969 | 01 4079 2 Mr. barren Smith (coat'd) Secretary-Treasurer, Ohio AFL-CIO President, WISH i the Maryland Workmen's Compensation Lav. Both of these groups could be of great help in developing the annual for Maryland and holding the training as well as providing or finding medical and legal expertise for workers with occupational, disease. I look forward to hearing from you and hope wc can become a part of your workers' compensation project. Sincerely TMB/egs opeiu 2 afl-cio cc; Dave Wilson Thomas M. Bradley President ] BB 0000970_! 01 4.080