Collectively Bargained Workers' Compensation (CBWC) is an agreement negotiated by a labor union and its signatory employers, through the collective bargaining process. CBWC modifies and enhances the conventional system of workers' compensation benefit delivery and dispute resolution for those employees subject to the agreement.
Each state must have legislation that authorizes CBWC, and each state’s insurance regulator(s) must approve CBWC before insurance carriers are permitted to manage workers’ compensation claims in accordance with provisions of the collective bargaining agreement. CBWC has been specifically authorized in California, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New York, and Pennsylvania. At the heart of CBWC is Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), which reduces the delay and wasted expense associated with litigation common to the statutory compensation' system. ADR provides an Ombudsman who proactively works with the injured worker to identify and resolve issues with his/her claim. If the issues are not resolved within a specified period, mediation and arbitration are utilized to settle matters quickly and fairly. Through ADR, disputes are resolved in a fraction of the time required in the conventional workers' compensation system and the need for attorney involvement is minimized. Costs are greatly reduced while providing the injured worker all of the benefits they are entitled to - on time and without undue hassle.
CBWC also provides enhanced workplace safety programs, designated medical networks offering high-quality medical care and Labor/Management oversight and cooperation to assure that the program runs efficiently.
Good Things Happen When Labor and Management Work Together:
• Quality medical care
• Rapid dispute resolution
• Ombudsman assistance to resolve claim issues
• Lower workers' compensation claims costs
• Enhanced competitiveness of union employers
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"The concept behind the CIW/C Trust (CBWC) is straightforward; reduce costs for the employer and increase the level of care/fairness for the injured worker by creating a program to take the mystery out of the process..."
David McEuen
President
California Erectors, Bay Area, Inc. |
"The use of the ombudsmen and case nurses has helped injured workers and their families better understand the process. This open, regular communication has improved the historical adversarial relationships between injured workers and insurance companies."
"The bottom line is CBWC programs work. Workers like them, unions like them and contractors like them."
"CBWC has helped the union contractors become more competitive with their non-union counterparts..."
Brian D. Kelley
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
United Riggers & Erectors, Inc. |
"It's a no-nonsense way of doing workers' compensation; workers get the medical care they need, the lost pay they are entitled to and they get back to work."
Dyan Bechtol
Office Manager
Maintenance and Machinery Erectors, Inc. |
SeaBright Insurance Company is a leading specialist in underwriting and servicing CBWC programs. Our claims, medical management and loss control services are custom tailored to help union employers get the most out of these programs.
To learn more about CBWC, contact:
Rae Farese
Senior Vice President, CBWC
Phone: 714-918-5901
E-mail: rae.farese@sbic.com |
