09/29/05 Workers` comp rate hike proposed

09/29/05 Workers` comp rate hike proposed

Washington Ag September 29, 2005 Hearings begin around the state this week on the Department of Labor and Industries proposed average rate hike of 3.8 percent for worker's compensation in 2006. The increase would average more like five percent for agriculture. The Washington State Farm Bureau remains opposed to any rate increase until the department is reformed and staff member Dan Fazio says having individual producers testify at these hearings is important. Fazio: "It would be huge. One farmer is worth a hundred lobbyists. People need to know what is going on out there. They need to know that you just can't keep escalating the minimum wage every year and workers' comp premiums. We need to crank back on these labor inputs if labor intensive agriculture is going to survive in our state, and our country, to tell you the truth." The first hearing is in Spokane, Tuesday, October 11th at the Airport Ramada Inn at 10 a.m. Yakima will have a hearing Thursday October 13th at the Red Lion Hotel Yakima Center at 10 a.m. Tuesday October 18th there will be a hearing in Mount Vernon at the Best Western CottonTree Inn at 10 a.m. A final rate decision will be made in mid-November with the rates taking effect January 1st. I'm Bob Hoff.
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