Opinion ID: 2638964
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Gallo

Text: ¶ 3 On August 29, 1997, Paula K. Gallo was injured in the course of her employment with Murphy Brothers, Inc. Gallo's employment was subject to the terms of the International Union of Operating Engineers' CBA. Schedule A of the CBA stated Gallo's base wage as $18.10 per hour. Certified Appeal Board Record (CABR Gallo) ex. 1, at 19-25; Clerk's Papers (CP) at 60; CABR (Gallo) at 15-16. The same schedule also classified health and security, pension, and apprentice training as fringe benefits. CABR (Gallo) ex. 1, at 24. For every compensable hour that Gallo worked, Schedule B of the CBA required Murphy Brothers to pay $2.55 into the health and security trust fund, $2.50 into the pension trust fund, and $.30 to the apprentice and training trust fund. ¶ 4 In late 1997, Gallo was granted benefits. The monthly wage order did not include the value of employer contributions for pensions, health, and security or apprenticeship and training benefits. Gallo appealed to the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals. For purposes of computing Gallo's time-loss compensation and loss of earnings power pursuant to RCW 51.08.178, the Board's industrial appeals judge (IAJ) included Gallo's medical insurance benefits as wages but excluded contributions for pension and apprenticeship training. The IAJ reasoned that Gallo's medical insurance was a core benefit of like nature to food, shelter, and fuel. CABR (Gallo) at 29-30. However, because Gallo's pension benefit and apprentice-program-contribution benefit were not similarly critical, the IAJ reasoned they were fringe benefit[s]. Id. Gallo petitioned for review to the Board, which adopted the IAJ's order. ¶ 5 Gallo then appealed to the superior court, which affirmed the Board. The Court of Appeals also affirmed. Gallo, 119 Wash.App. 49, 81 P.3d 869. Gallo subsequently sought review in this court and her petition was consolidated with four other cases. [1]