On April 9, almost three years to the day Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 899 into law, two new employer representatives were appointed by the governor to California’s Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation. The appointment of Catherine Aguilar of the San Diego County Schools Joint Powers Authority and Sean McNally of Grimmway Farms signals renewed attention to the commission from the Governor’s Office and a much-needed return to balance in the operations of that omnipresent organization. It is a good day for workers’ comp.
Both Aguilar and McNally have the substantive and political experience to elevate the ongoing debate over the efficacy of the reforms at both the commission and, likely, before the legislature.
More important, for employers it is also a welcome indication that the governor is beginning to understand the need to have his allies continue to deflect data-driven criticisms of SB 899 often pushed by the commission and its controversial union-oriented research.
Before going to work for the San Diego County Schools JPA, Aguilar worked for Costco, one of the prime movers in the initiative campaign that led to SB 899. Grimmway Farms, and Sean McNally in particular, was one of the others.
The employer “A” list is only now becoming the governor’s “A” team when it comes to blocking the many legal, legislative and regulatory assaults on SB 899.
William Zachry of Safeway is chair of the Fraud Assessment Commission. The Walt Disney Company, Boeing, UPS and Marriott round out that list and play an integral role in establishing legislative, regulatory, media and legal strategies for most of the major employer organizations in Sacramento.
Amicus participation by the Chamber of Commerce in key challenges to SB 899 is just one example of the commitment of these major employers to preserve gains made three years ago.
The appointment of new commissioners to CHSWC is a natural continuation of the leadership these companies have shown in working with their labor counterparts to develop a workers’ compensation system worthy of its constitutional promise. Now, the challenge will be up to labor to see whether it can share the resources of the commission with employers who not only know workers’ compensation and Sacramento but who now also have a vote.