McCaskey-Backed Illinois Workers’ Comp Bill
Feb 14, 2017 7:14:11 GMT -6
riczaj01 and butkus3595 like this
Post by brasilbear on Feb 14, 2017 7:14:11 GMT -6
www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-bears-nflpa-haugh-spt-0212-20170211-column.html
Apparently the NFLPA lied. Big shock there.
"linois is the only state with a workers' compensation law that offers wage differential to professional athletes until the age of 67.
Since 2005, the five major professional sports teams in Illinois have paid more money in workers' compensation claims than teams in any other state — 41 percent higher than the next-closest state.
Though the first two sentences sound like boring bureaucratese, remember those pertinent facts. The National Football League Players Association conveniently has ignored them."
...
"Fed up by Friday afternoon, the Bears finally provided clarity courtesy of the team's general counsel, Cliff Stein, perhaps the man at Halas Hall most qualified to be team president. In a drop-the-mic, 35-minute teleconference, Stein articulated the impetus behind the Chicago teams' interest in the legislation and all but rolled his eyes at Smith threatening to steer free-agents away from the Bears if the bill passes.
"I can say right now, that not one time in my 22 years (of contract negotiating), on either side of the fence, has any player or agent ever looked (deeply) into 'What are the workers' comp laws in your state?'" Stein said. "In Illinois, they would be attractive if they did.''
That's the irony. If Smith had wanted to direct NFL free-agents to a home with a favorable wage-differential law, he likely would use Illinois' distinction to lure players to the Bears. Only 13 states offer wage-differential benefits; 37 do not. None offer a payment period as long as Illinois', an abnormality that cried out for reform."
...
"...yet judging by the tone of his voice, Stein felt more steamed by the misinformation the NFLPA persisted in peddling. The most egregious example came when Smith suggested on the "Spiegel and Parkins Show,'' on WSCR-AM 670 that Senate Bill 12 endangered the medical benefits of NFL retirees. Smith proclaimed that changing the law would "take away (former players') right to health care that every worker in the state of Illinois is entitled to.''
"A false and misleading statement,'' Stein said, stressing the Bears never would support a measure depriving NFL retirees of medical benefits."
...
"In a teleconference earlier Friday, NFLPA officials also raised Stein's ire by misstating that pro teams don't pay workers' compensation benefits out of their own pockets. It was the latest misstep in a clumsy anti-Bears campaign intended to squelch a bill still awaiting a vote on the Illinois Senate floor.
The NFLPA started complaining about Senate Bill 12 at Super Bowl LI in Houston but has yet to attach a face to the issue, failing to present an example of someone treated unjustly by virtue of the workers' compensation laws in Illinois. In the past four years, the NFLPA said they had identified 76 cases where a professional athlete had filed for workers' compensation — but only five involved NFL players subject to the current Illinois law."
---------
But hey it sure was fun dumping on the Bears huh?
Apparently the NFLPA lied. Big shock there.
"linois is the only state with a workers' compensation law that offers wage differential to professional athletes until the age of 67.
Since 2005, the five major professional sports teams in Illinois have paid more money in workers' compensation claims than teams in any other state — 41 percent higher than the next-closest state.
Though the first two sentences sound like boring bureaucratese, remember those pertinent facts. The National Football League Players Association conveniently has ignored them."
...
"Fed up by Friday afternoon, the Bears finally provided clarity courtesy of the team's general counsel, Cliff Stein, perhaps the man at Halas Hall most qualified to be team president. In a drop-the-mic, 35-minute teleconference, Stein articulated the impetus behind the Chicago teams' interest in the legislation and all but rolled his eyes at Smith threatening to steer free-agents away from the Bears if the bill passes.
"I can say right now, that not one time in my 22 years (of contract negotiating), on either side of the fence, has any player or agent ever looked (deeply) into 'What are the workers' comp laws in your state?'" Stein said. "In Illinois, they would be attractive if they did.''
That's the irony. If Smith had wanted to direct NFL free-agents to a home with a favorable wage-differential law, he likely would use Illinois' distinction to lure players to the Bears. Only 13 states offer wage-differential benefits; 37 do not. None offer a payment period as long as Illinois', an abnormality that cried out for reform."
...
"...yet judging by the tone of his voice, Stein felt more steamed by the misinformation the NFLPA persisted in peddling. The most egregious example came when Smith suggested on the "Spiegel and Parkins Show,'' on WSCR-AM 670 that Senate Bill 12 endangered the medical benefits of NFL retirees. Smith proclaimed that changing the law would "take away (former players') right to health care that every worker in the state of Illinois is entitled to.''
"A false and misleading statement,'' Stein said, stressing the Bears never would support a measure depriving NFL retirees of medical benefits."
...
"In a teleconference earlier Friday, NFLPA officials also raised Stein's ire by misstating that pro teams don't pay workers' compensation benefits out of their own pockets. It was the latest misstep in a clumsy anti-Bears campaign intended to squelch a bill still awaiting a vote on the Illinois Senate floor.
The NFLPA started complaining about Senate Bill 12 at Super Bowl LI in Houston but has yet to attach a face to the issue, failing to present an example of someone treated unjustly by virtue of the workers' compensation laws in Illinois. In the past four years, the NFLPA said they had identified 76 cases where a professional athlete had filed for workers' compensation — but only five involved NFL players subject to the current Illinois law."
---------
But hey it sure was fun dumping on the Bears huh?