Opinion ID: 2638964
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Barber

Text: ¶ 10 Kenneth J. Barber was injured on June 5, 2000, while in the course of his employment with Hensons Masonry, Inc., as a full time journeyman hod carrier. [3] At the time of injury, Barber was a member of the same union as Renshaw and subject to the same CBA. Under that agreement Barber's wage rate was $23.40 per hour. Barber was granted benefits but disagreed with the Department's calculation of his monthly wage and he appealed. ¶ 11 The IAJ found that the monthly payments by Barber's employer for health and security benefits constituted a portion of his wages for the purposes of computing his rate of time-loss compensation because these benefits were critical to Barber's health and survival. However, applying the Cockle test the IAJ declined to include the employer's payments into union trust funds for life insurance, disability insurance, pension benefits, training benefits and LECET as part of wages. ¶ 12 Barber petitioned for review to the Board, which adopted the IAJ's order in a split decision. Barber then appealed to the superior court. The court reversed the Board's exclusion of payments for life and disability insurance, but otherwise affirmed the Board. [4] Barber's motion for direct review in this court was granted and his case was consolidated with four others.