Deal on workers' comp reached - By Jay Gallagher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, NY
Gov. Eliot Spitzer and legislative leaders Tuesday announced a deal to overhaul the state's much-criticized workers' compensation system, which business leaders have complained for decades is a major drag on the upstate economy and labor unions have said provides insufficient benefits.
The agreement calls for reduced premiums for businesses, greater awards for injured workers and a cap on the period that partially disabled workers can collect benefits. Under current law, partially disabled workers have been able to collect benefits for the rest of their lives.
'This is a remarkable win-win situation for both workers and employers,' Spitzer said."