Hundreds of Workers at Ontario’s WSIB Strike Over Work Conditions and Pay
Hundreds of unionized employees from Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) walked off the job in Toronto on Thursday. This strike is part of a series of rolling strikes happening across the province after the workers’ union couldn’t reach a deal with the employer.
Harry Goslin, president of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU), also known as CUPE Local 1750, said the union has been trying to negotiate a new agreement since February 25. The union was legally allowed to strike as of Wednesday.
Goslin said the WSIB’s offers are not acceptable. He explained that the union is asking for better solutions to issues like heavy workloads, wages, and workplace culture.
He added that the workload at WSIB is especially bad. Case numbers are too high, not enough workers have been hired, and training is lacking. “Our anxiety and depression rates are higher than the national average,” Goslin said. “This has to change.”
The union also described the workplace as “toxic,” a claim WSIB denies.
Some Services Interrupted During Strikes
The union said workers will stop some services during the strike. However, the WSIB announced that its website would still allow people to report injuries, submit documents, check claims, register businesses, and access other services. Non-union staff will handle critical services.
On Thursday and Friday, union pickets were planned in cities like Toronto, Kingston, London, Ottawa, and Windsor. In Toronto alone, up to 1,000 workers joined the strike, while 3,600 participated across Ontario.
Workers rallied outside WSIB’s office at 200 Front Street West in Toronto, marching in the rain and waving flags. During the rally, Goslin told union members: “We’re standing up for our wellness, our standard of living, and a WSIB that puts workers first.”
Disagreements Over Pay and Workload
The union criticized the latest WSIB offer, which included a 2% wage increase in the first year, 1.5% in the second year, and 1% in the third year. Goslin said this isn’t enough and asked WSIB to improve the deal.
Meanwhile, WSIB said it has a “comprehensive offer” on the table but declined to share details. Aaron Lazarus, WSIB’s vice president of communications, said, “We’re proud of the work we do and want everyone back to help Ontarians.”
Lazarus also said the number of cases handled by long-term case managers has dropped over the past five years. However, he noted that “workload” isn’t clearly defined in the union’s agreement.
To prevent disruptions, WSIB has disabled building and technology access for striking workers. Jeff Lang, WSIB’s president and CEO, said their focus is on bargaining and ensuring essential services continue for Ontarians.
