Northwest labor press., April 18, 2014, Page 2, Image 2

SAIF
celebrates
100 years
of workers’
comp
Until you, or someone you love, has
a workplace injury, you probably never
think twice — or even once — about
the system that makes sure injured
workers are taken care of, and prevents
the rest from getting hurt in the first
place.
That system, called “workers com-
pensation,” is 100 years old this year in
Oregon. 2014 also marks the 100th
anniversary of SAIF Corporation
(known in 1914 as the State Industrial
Accident Commission). SAIF Corpo-
ration is Oregon’s not-for-profit work-
ers’ compensation insurance company.
As part of its celebration, SAIF is
honoring the people and organizations
State ombudsman can
assist injured workers
SALEM — The Ombudsman
for Injured Workers is a state office
that serves as an independent ad-
vocate for injured workers by help-
ing them understand their rights
and responsibilities, investigating
complaints, and assisting to resolve
complaints. The ombudsman’s
staff give straight answers, at no
charge, about worker rights and re-
sponsibilities; time loss and med-
ical benefits; returning to work;
claim closure; and litigation and
settlement processes.
If you need help regarding your
workers’ compensation claim, call
toll-free at 800-927-1271, or 503-
378-3351, or by email at oiw.ques-
tions@state.or.us. Their web site is
at www.oregon.gov/DCBS/OIW.
The ombudsman is Jennifer
Flood.
Former Labor Press editor helped
pass workers’ comp law in Oregon
From left to right are Bob Shiprack, Kevin Jensen, state Rep. Margaret
Doherty (D-Tigard), SAIF board member Rob Van Cleave, John Endicott,
Elana Guiney and John Mohlis.
that have had an impact on the work-
ers’ comp system over the course of the
last century with the “100 Faces of
Change” exhibit at the Oregon Histor-
ical Society in Portland.
The exhibit showcases photos and
artifacts from Oregon industries, along
with 100 short stories of those people
and organizations. There are governors
(and one president), inventors, busi-
ness, and labor. Mention in the list of
100 are Bob Shiprack, a retired execu-
tive secretary of the Oregon State
Building and Construction Trades
Council (OSBCTC), and Irv Fletcher,
a retired president of the Oregon AFL-
CIO. Both men were part of the 1990
Mahonia Hall Workers’ Compensation
Reform delegation, and Shiprack was
one of the original members of the
Management- Labor Advisory Com-
mittee (MLAC), which also is high-
lighted at the museum.
The interactive exhibit opened
March 29 and runs through June 22 at
the OHS museum at 1200 SW Park
Ave., Portland.
Several union members attended
the grand opening. Besides Shiprack,
there was current MLAC members
John Mohlis, executive secretary of
OSBCTC, and Elana Guiney, legisla-
tive director for the Oregon AFL-CIO;
SAIF board member Kevin Jensen,
business manager of Iron Workers Lo-
cal 29; former SAIF board member
John Endicott, a retired business man-
ager of Plumbers and Fitters Local
290; and state Rep. Brad Witt, a union
rep for United Food and Commercial
Workers Local 555 and a former
MLAC member.
On July 1, SAIF will publish the
“100 Faces of Change” stories and
photos on saif.com.
Former Oregon Labor Press Editor
William A. Marshall was considered “the
godfather” of Oregon’s workers’ compensa-
tion law. A member of the Multnomah Typo-
graphical Union No. 58, Marshall helped
push through a law to provide compensation
to injured workers and widows and orphans
of those fatally hurt.
In 1912, Gov. Oswald West appointed
Marshall to the first State Industrial Accident
Commission, where he served until 1927. In
that job he became known nationally as an
authority on what at that time was referred to
WILLIAM MARSHALL
as “workermen’s compensation.”
Later, he was appointed an administrator
in Seattle of the federal job-injury compensation program for long-
shoremen and harbor workers.
William Marshall died in Seattle in 1963 at age 88.
(International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X)
Established in 1900 at Portland, Oregon
as a voice of the labor movement.
4275 NE Halsey St., P.O. Box 13150,
Portland, Ore. 97213
Telephone: (503) 288-3311
Editor: Michael Gutwig
Staff: Don McIntosh, Cheri Rice
Published on a semi-monthly basis on the first and third Fridays of
each month by the Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc., a non-
profit corporation owned by 20 unions and councils including the
Oregon AFL-CIO. Serving more than 120 union organizations in Ore-
gon and SW Washington. Subscriptions $13.75 per year for union
members.
Group rates available to trade union organizations.
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID
AT PORTLAND, OREGON.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICE: Three weeks are required for a
change of address. When ordering a change, please give your old
and new addresses and the name and number of your local union.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS, P.O. BOX 13150,
PORTLAND, OR 97213-0150
PAGE 2
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
APRIL 18, 2014