With workers’ compensation costs totaling about $75 million a year, Groton, Conn.-based Electric Boat has decided to take over management of its injured workers’ claims for the first time since the company became self-insured in 1973.
Alvin J. Ayers, the company’s manager of workers’ compensation who will direct the 25 employees in the new department, says that while he hopes to cut the cost of the program, it won’t be at the expense of workers. He wants to target the $4.5 million in fees Electric Boat pays to injured workers’ lawyers every year.
Union officials said in theory, the new way of handling the comp claims could–but they still seem slightly circumspect.
“They said it will be seamless, but our members have a lot of questions,” said Kenneth J. DelaCruz, president of the Metal Trades Council. “We want to sit down with them and make sure that all of our concerns are addressed.”
The chief concern, he said, is that if the company is going to save money, it is not on the amounts paid to injured workers.
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jwthompson@tribune.com
