OCEU: Ford government's review of WSIB an opportunity to improve services for injured workers

The Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU), which represents more than 3,700 workers at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), is cautiously warning the government that as part of their decision to launch a review of the WSIB, they should be looking for ways to improve service delivery for injured workers in Ontario and not ways to cut important jobs across the province.

"Yesterday, the government announced this review as part of their plan to protect taxpayers and improve efficiency, but in order to effectively do that, they need to stand with working families in Ontario by making sure they’re able to access the best support possible if ever they get injured while at work,” said Harry Goslin, President of the OCEU. “To truly improve frontline services at the WSIB for injured workers across the province, the government should give WSIB workers better support and resources to more effectively do their jobs – and listen to the very workers who are on the frontlines supporting other workers.”

Since 2018, the WSIB has returned more than $21.5 billion in savings and rebates to Ontario employers while maintaining one of the healthiest financial positions in its history. The WSIB operates a healthy budget without any cost to the government or taxpayers for the services they provide injured workers covered by the WSIB.

“The WSIB is funded entirely through employer premiums, not the provincial treasury at no cost to the government or to those very taxpayers. There are other ways to demonstrate fiscal responsibility, without targeting the WSIB, which is financially strong, or the workers that support workers in every corner of the province,” added Goslin. “We’re hopeful that this review provides better support to injured workers across the province and to our members – and that it’s not a job cutting exercise that leaves Ontarian working families worse off.”

The Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU), also known as CUPE Local 1750, represents over 3,700 employees who are employed with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association. These members serve workers, their families and employers in the province of Ontario, providing compensation for loss of earnings, benefits or health care coverage to eligible Ontarians who have suffered an injury or illness as a result of their job.

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