TORONTO – The Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750) is calling on Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) leadership to return to the bargaining table with a fair deal for more than 3,600 striking workers before Canada Day. The union says it has not received a proposal from the employer since June 15, despite public claims from WSIB that negotiations are ongoing.
“This lack of meaningful engagement shows Ontario the WSIB leadership has turned their back on the 5.6 million workers covered by the WSIB,” said Harry Goslin, President of OCEU/CUPE 1750. “WSIB owes it to their employees to get back to face-to-face negotiations – not hide behind the mediator.”
Goslin also rejected WSIB’s claim that the union is unwilling to accept a deal.
“We are prepared to accept a fair deal. What we’re not going to accept is an offer that fails to respect the critical work our members do,” he said. “The employer hasn’t presented a ‘yes’ offer – they’ve presented low wages and more study to understand workload. We don’t need more study, we need immediate action.”
Earlier this week, the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) sent a letter of solidarity to WSIB leadership, highlighting the impact of unsustainable workloads, mental health strain, and the need for fair wages. ONA noted WSIB had spent more than $14.5 million on external consultants rather than investing in its own workforce.
OCEU’s bargaining team says it remains available 24/7 and is calling on WSIB’s CEO and board of directors to “stop the delays and deliver a respectful settlement that reflects the essential work of Ontario’s compensation workers.”
Read the Ontario Nurses’ Association’s letter of support for OCEU here: ONA Supports OCEU.
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Many injured workers oppose and refuse to support the striking workers. Their reasoning is that injured workers have bern treated horribly by the WSIB. The confusion is that even if a WSIB staff member was wrong or acted inapropriately this is thhe WSIB as they are the employer. In most cases staff are ordered to act this way.
I fully support the workers strike. I’m an injured worker of 35 plus years. Complicated case ongoing. I have been treated with respect and care despite the fact they have to follow unjust policies.