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TORONTO \u2014 The union representing workers at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is reporting that after a long weekend negotiating with the employer, talks are no further ahead towards a deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite a promising step to extend the negotiating period to May 21st, the union and the employer remain at an impasse on the fundamental issues impacting over 3,600 union members at the WSIB,\u201d states the bargaining team for OCEU\/CUPE 1750 in a May 20 statement.<\/p>\n
The union held a strike vote on May 1 and received a 96 per cent yes vote from members.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur members are ready,\u201d said Nicole Francis, chief steward of OCEU\/CUPE 1750. \u201cThe WSIB employees have never had a labour disruption, but the current senior management team seems determined to change that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The union is arguing that the WSIB has given rebates of $4 billion to employers this year but \u201cwon\u2019t invest any of the remaining billions of dollars of surplus to improve working conditions within the organization or expand access to the 1.56 million workers in Ontario not currently covered by the WSIB.\u201d<\/p>\n
The workload is one of the key issues in talks.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n