The Annual Ohio AFL-CIO Workers’ Compensation Institute was held with great success at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus on February 18- 22. Union participation grew from last year, with the number of participants totaling over 240, and first year participants making up over one quarter of all of those who attended. The Institute kicked off with Industrial Commission Chairman Gary DiCeglio and Compensation specialist Peggy Griffith (CWA), explaining the basics of Workers’ Compensation. This year was the first year in many that Gary DiCeglio was not on the planning end of the conference in light of his appointment by Governor Strickland to the important position of Chairperson of the Industrial Commission.
Marsha Ryan, BWC Administrator, with Peggy Griffith, Secretary Treasurer, CWA Local 4302 and Tim Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO Chief of Staff at the BWC Institute.
Other speakersincluded Marsha Ryan, BWC Administrator, Dave Caldwell (USW), BWC Executive Board, Phil Fulton, BWC Executive Board, Stewart Jaffy, Jaffy Law, Michael Travis, Chief Ombuds Person and Pat Gannon, Executive Director of the Industrial Commission. Additionally, the participants enjoyed Sandra Bell’s presentation on “Temporary Total” and the mock hearings that took place on Wednesday.
The week provided the labor reps a chance to discuss compensation issues with their peers, learn new material from the experts, and catch up with fellow union brothers and sisters. At the banquet, Ohio AFL-CIO past President Bill Burga recognized Gary for his service to the Ohio AFL-CIO, the Institute and to injured workers.
