Help Jorge Ferrá get back on his feet

On October 24th, 2022, the life of my father, Jorge Ferrá, changed forever. A respected IBEW 1212 audio engineer, he was driving from New Jersey to Buffalo, NY, for a news shoot. At about 8pm, outside of Rochester, NY, he was involved in a minor fender bender. Both vehicles pulled over to the side of the road and looked for any damage. Though they couldn’t find much, they decided to exchange details.

My dad got into the driver’s seat and reached to get the insurance card from the glovebox when a 3rd car slammed into his vehicle, crushing his left foot in the open door and shattered the left side of his body from his left heel up to his jaw. The impact was so fierce, the 3rd vehicle erupted in fire. A passerby stopped and pulled him unconscious from the wreck.

My father was in an ICU for 72 hours. After three days, he was able to return to his home in New Jersey for additional medical treatment. Because it was a work-related accident, and several vehicles were involved, there were many layers and a bureaucratic runaround. It took months to get his care plan in order and surgeries scheduled.

In the meantime, his company chose to terminate his employment even though he was a full-time employee and this was his sole source of income. Besides losing his salary, he lost his health insurance, and workers compensation benefits. His insurance cut out just 4 days before a series of scheduled surgeries. Without coverage, he couldn’t afford the medical treatments or surgeries. His employer claims he wasn’t on the job while driving the six hours from his home to his assignment, even though it was in a company-rented vehicle going to a scheduled shoot. In fact, his company continues to challenge every aspect of his worker’s comp case to this day.

My dad had no choice but to argue his claim against the company and after months of delay, he had a hearing before a worker’s comp judge, and he won. But that’s when his former employer contested and appealed the decision, delaying his reimbursement for lost wages, medical care, and the costs associated with his recovery. The appeal can take another 4 months.

It’s now August 2023, nine and a half months since the incident and the 58-year-old father of three is still unable to work, and this ordeal has emptied his savings account. He still desperately needs medical and occupational therapy to return to work. In order to fight his former employer’s powerful legal team, he needs funds. Frankly, even the coins lost in my dad’s sofa have been found and spent. He held out this long without complaining or asking for help because he is proud.

His financial situation is now so dire, he sent his wife and younger children back to Puerto Rico, and he is watching his budget so much, he refuses to use his air conditioner hoping to save some money. He is really trying to keep it together. If he can outlast the appeals process, which he has been told he will win, he will be able to get the care he needs and resume his career as an audio engineer. But he can’t fight this alone.

How can you help? Donate. If you can give a union brother one day’s wage or any amount, it will help him avoid homelessness and be able to continue with his care plan. I know he would stand up for you if the tables were turned; please join me in supporting my father, a union brother and family man, Jorge Ferrá, as generously as you can. No amount too small.