For immediate release                                                                      

          17 June 2008

Trauma must be covered by ACC

Finance sector union, Finsec is calling upon all political parties to support proposed changes to the ACC scheme that would give cover to people who suffer mental trauma as a result of workplace accidents.

“We know of cases where bank staff have been so mentally traumatised by armed hold ups that they have been simply unable to go back to work in the bank,” said Finsec Campaigns Director, Andrew Campbell.

“Workers who suffer workplace trauma currently don’t receive ACC assistance with counselling or any other forms of help that enable them to return to work.  This needs to change,” said Campbell.                       

“Trauma is as debilitating as physical injury and should be treated the same. It is unfair that ACC doesn’t assist traumatised workers due to an artificial distinction between physical and mental harm,” said Campbell.

“It is now time for this inequity was fixed.  We call on all political parties to support changes to ACC that would include cover for trauma, or explain why they are prepared to continue denying help to workers who genuinely need it,” said Campbell.

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