Workers suffer 'loss of income' with WorkCover: unions

28/05/2012 - NSW president of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Rita Mallia dismissed business groups' claims that WorkCover suffered from a "lump-sum culture" or "pot of gold mentality".

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Rather, injured construction workers suffered a loss of income when relying on compensation.

"Nobody wants to be on $413.50 a week. They want to get back to work, they want to earn the bucks they were earning before they left," Mallia told the inquiry.

"We're talking about workers who earn in excess of $1500 to $2000 working six days week.

"There is no pot of gold when they're stuck on compo."

Jodie Wormleaton said since her construction worker husband David lost his leg the family was reliant on payments of just under $500 a week.

A full-time carer to her son with cerebral palsy, Wormleaton said her family would be "out on the street" if the payments were cut.

"No amount of money they can give you can give you back the life that you had," she told reporters outside parliament.

"It doesn't give your leg back, it doesn't replace the way things were the way before, but it might make life a little easier."

Source: AAP

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