Transport Workers Union of America and Workers’ Comp Few workplaces are so safe and secure that they are entirely accident free. If you are a member of a Transport Workers Union Local you will be kept up to speed on what to do if injured while at work. As the TWU spans many diverse types of work, there are many much riskier than others. If you are injured while at work, you will be able to find out from your union representative about workers’ compensation benefits which can help you pay for medical treatment and compensate for time lost at work. The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) The TWU is one of America’s largest and most diverse unions, representing workers in the airline, gaming, service, transit, railroad, university and utilities sectors. There are 140,000 TWU members. The union has helped to bargain for successful agreements between its members and the businesses and industries they work for. The TWU is fully affiliated with the AFL-CIO. Workplace Injuries Suffered by TWU Members Because TWU members work in such a huge variety of occupations it is impossible to describe just what are the most common. Flight attendants face completely different injury hazards to ground staff and aircraft mechanics and yet they may be all TWU members. Airline cabin staff may face back, hip and leg injuries from being on their feet for hours at a time while ground staff face strain related injury from heavy lifting and mechanics could be injured by their own equipment. Truck drivers may be experienced at what they do, but cannot prepare for the unknown. There is always the chance of being hit by another vehicle or a collision caused by a dangerous highway surface or weather conditions. Even gaming industry workers face injury while at work. Slip and fall injuries are the most common in a casino and can cause injuries ranging from minor bruising and cuts to bone breakages, dislocated shoulder, elbow and hip joints, spinal damage and concussion. Employees who are injured at work and are covered by their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance can claim medical expenses and part of their lost earnings by filing a claim. What to Do If You Have Been Hurt On the Job Even if you know that your employer has workers’ comp. insurance, compensation is not given out immediately. There is an established formal procedure. Your TWU local representative can help advise you what to do. Here are the important basic steps. Inform your supervisor as soon as is practicable. Get the medical attention you need as soon as possible. The employer may have an agreement with a medical facility or hospital that you may need to use if you intend claiming workers’ compensation later. File an Accident Report. You will have a certain time limit within which to do this which varies from state to state. Your TWU representative will let you know what this is. Medical reports should be kept for your claim. Talk to your TWU representative about the claims process and what you should include. Contact a workers’ compensation attorney if still confused or needing specialized legal help. Why Contact an Attorney Workers’ compensation may be available but is never guaranteed. If you need legal help, or your claim is denied, contact an experienced workers’ comp. attorney for assistance. Don’t negotiate or contact your employer’s insurer directly as you may be asked to sign a document that you later regret. Disclaimer The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against your employer, you may not be entitled to any compensation
