AFL-CIO Field Communications staffer Cathy Sherwin sends us this report.

Opponents of working people in Michigan are pushing a bill that would gut protections for workers hurt on the job and give employers more power to dictate where injured workers could seek treatment. The bill also would slash benefits by factoring in “imaginary” wages and pensions and deducting from benefits—reducing workers’ compensation by the amount someone might be able to earn, regardless of the availability of an actual job.

The bill, H.B. 5002, has passed the state House, and as legislators in the Senate took it up last week, they were faced with 150 police, firefighters, autoworkers and others packing the Senate hearing room and filling an overflow room to capacity as they described the H.B. 5002′s devastating impact on injured Michigan workers.

Michigan Public Radio quoted testimony by Chris Luty, with the Michigan State Police Troopers Association, that reinforced the dangers of subtracting imaginary wages:

What’s available out there—what’s really available out there—and what’s theoretically available out there are often two very different things.

In addition to the dozens who told their stories to the committee, many more filled out cards against the bill. Corporations and interest groups spoke in favor of the bill, including the Michigan Manufacturers Association and others that have been pushing a laundry list of attacks on Michigan workers, including so-called right to work.

Workers’ compensation is only the latest power grab by Lansing politicians who have cynically decided to work for CEOs and Wall Street bankers instead of the 99 percent of Michiganders. This fight to protect injured workers is ongoing. If you’re in Michigan, sign the petition to protect workers’ comp benefits. And to stay involved and informed on the issue, watch for #saveMIworkerscomp and #StateSOS on Twitter.