{"id":17491,"date":"2023-05-25T23:18:37","date_gmt":"2023-05-26T06:18:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/ontario-wsib-workers-threaten-strike-as-deadline-looms\/"},"modified":"2023-05-25T23:18:38","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T06:18:38","slug":"ontario-wsib-workers-threaten-strike-as-deadline-looms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/ontario-wsib-workers-threaten-strike-as-deadline-looms\/","title":{"rendered":"Ontario WSIB workers threaten strike as deadline looms"},"content":{"rendered":"

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TORONTO \u2013 Employees at Ontario\u2019s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board are threatening to strike if a new deal isn\u2019t reached by next week.<\/p>\n

The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the workers, said Thursday that employees want more money, more resources and more training.<\/p>\n

\u201cToo many of my coworkers are running on fumes,\u201d said Harry Goslin, president of the local chapter of CUPE that represents 3,750 workers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the workers who deliver the very services Ontarians rely on are struggling, it has an unavoidable impact on service delivery.\u201d<\/p>\n

The board provides wage-loss benefits, medical coverage and support to those who have work-related injuries and illnesses.<\/p>\n

CUPE said it has a strike vote of 97 per cent in favour of labour action and has set a deadline to get a deal done by next Tuesday. There are two days of negotiations left before the deadline.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we need to take legal strike action, we are ready,\u201d Goslin said. \u201cSadly, we are not yet close to a deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Labour, which is responsible for the WSIB, said it is encouraging both sides to resolve their differences at the bargaining table.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are confident that by working together the parties can reach a settlement,\u201d said Jennifer Rushby.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe WSIB has been clear they will continue to process claims, and provide pay, medical coverage, and support to injured workers through this period.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fred Hahn, the president of CUPE Ontario, said the workload has increased significantly for WSIB employees.<\/p>\n

\u201cA few years ago, the average WSIB case manager had about 70 cases to oversee, 70 injured workers, 70 families depending on them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday that number for some is ballooned to 140 cases, and some have more.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said workers need the WSIB to provide more training. For example, he said, the organization used to provide six months of training to every adjudicator and case manager.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat training has been cut in half,\u201d Hahn said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe results of all this are clear: an unreasonable workload for WSIB workers resulting in burnout, attrition, and understaffing \u2013 a critical service that\u2019s not up to the task, leading injured workers waiting months for their benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a92023 THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n