Many workers in Minnesota are part of a labor union, and these unions can provide special protections and benefits to their employees. And while your union may lay out some specifics in terms of how injured workers are compensated, that doesn’t always mean receiving compensation is a straightforward process. In today’s blog, we explain why it’s likely in your best interest to hire a lawyer if you are seeking injury compensation and you are a union member.
Collective Bargaining Agreements and Injury Compensation
Most Minnesota unions have a collective bargaining agreement that outlines how a union member can collect workers’ compensation benefits. It may provide you with a basic summary, but odds are there will still be some confusion about how you should file a claim. Even if you get assistance from a union representative in filing your claim, there’s a good chance that you’re leaving benefits on the table simply because you’re not familiar with the complexities of workers’ compensation law.
At Hey Workers, we have a wealth of experience collecting compensation for union members and workers in the trades, and our clients are glad to have us by their side during the process. We’ve represented construction workers, plumbers, pipefitters and other union members throughout their claims process, and we work hard to maximize the benefits they receive. This is especially important because many union members work extremely physical jobs, which means:
- Injuries tend to be more severe
- Injuries are more likely to have a long-term effect on their ability to return to work in a full-time capacity
Even if your long-term career isn’t threatened by your injury, you deserve to get paid an honest compensation package just like anybody else, and that’s where we come in. You might be told that because you’re part of a union that you don’t need representation because the process is simplified by your CBA, but we still offer counseling options to ensure you’re not missing out on anything you rightfully deserve. Also, union employee or not, the insurance company is well-known for claim denials even in cases where the injury seems clear and obvious, so if you want to help prevent a denial, or you need assistance in the wake of a claim denial, contact Hey Workers for more information.
So if you want professional assistance filing your injury claim as dictated by your union’s collective bargaining agreement, or you want to ensure that you can rightfully collect on a long-term disability policy if your return to work is threatened after an injury, pick up the phone and call the experienced lawyers at Hey Workers. We’ll work just as hard at our job as you do at yours. For more information, or to talk to an injury lawyer in the greater Twin Cities area, give us a call at (844) 439-9675.
