Washington State Voters Reject Workers Comp Privatization Plan

Voters in Washington state have rejected a measure that would have allowed private insurers to compete for employers’ business in the state’s workers’ compensation system.

More than 58 percent of voters on Nov. 2 rejected Initiative Measure No. 1082, according to the Washington Secretary of State’s office. Washington is among four U.S. states that have a monopoly workers’ comp system.

The Building Industry Association of Washington, along with insurance industry support, sought to end the Labor and Industries Department’s monopoly. Organized labor and trial lawyers opposed the initiative.

The measure would have eliminated a Washington practice of requiring workers to pay a portion of workers’ comp premiums as well as allowed private insurers to sell policies.   

 Filed by Roberto Ceniceros of Business Insurance, a sister publication of Workforce Management. To comment, e-mail editors@workforce.com.

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