Reparation call angers CTU

Workplace injury victims would become second-class victims of crime if their right to go to court was abolished, says the Council of Trade Unions.
The Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association has called for the abolition of the right for courts to make reparation awards for pain and suffering to workplace injury victims under the Sentencing Act 2002.

Association spokesman Paul Jarvie said victims were already covered by ACC and a court settlement as well was "double dipping".

Union council president Ross Wilson said, "This is a disgraceful call.

"Every victim of criminal offences is entitled to reparation awards and it is outrageous that a major employers' organisation should suggest that work injury victims should be discriminated against and denied the same legal rights."

Mr Jarvie said reparation in court was a lottery, as there was no guarantee of a win, while ACC covered every worker.

"The whole question of reparation in court is to cover what ACC does not - pain and suffering and the consequences of loss."

Since the Sentencing Act was introduced, he said, there had been a slight trend to diminish the fine for the company involved, yet increase the reparation for the victim.

If reparations continued to increase, then employers would want to fight them in court.

- NZPA