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TORONTO \u2014 Striking Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) employees and supporters rallied at Queen\u2019s Park yesterday as the strike nears its third week.<\/p>\n
Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU\/CUPE 1750) members have been on strike since May 21 with the union stating \u201cworkers, employers, and frontline staff are all paying the price for the WSIB\u2019s refusal to negotiate in good faith. Instead of resolving the dispute, management is resorting to costly shortcuts and spin.\u201d<\/p>\n
At issue between the union and WSIB are wages, workloads and backlogs.<\/p>\n
The WSIB is stating it engaged in mediated talks with the OCEU over the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe WSIB is at the table, ready to land a deal, as it awaits a meaningful response from the union,\u201d a statement reads.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a press release it states the WSIB has proposed \u201cabove inflation wage increases over the next three years. By 2027, over 73 per cent of OCEU members would be earning over $100,000.\u201d<\/p>\n
The board also says it has proposed to \u201cenhance a joint workload committee with dedicated resourcing to help speed plans to reduce caseload further.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have an amazing team that does tough but excellent work,\u201d said Jeff Lang, president and CEO of the WSIB. \u201cWhen people are hurt at work, we help them recover and return to what matters, and we\u2019re getting the best results in a decade. I hope our team sees our position as a genuine effort to put this strike behind us and get back to what we do best: helping people.\u201d<\/p>\n
The union countered the board\u2019s statement with: \u201cOCEU\/CUPE 1750 remains unwavering in its commitment to a fair deal that upholds public service standards, protects the integrity of Ontario\u2019s workers\u2019 compensation system, and ensures injured workers get the support they deserve, without compromise, delay or deception. It\u2019s time for the employer to come back to the table and end this strike now.\u201d<\/p>\n
The WSIB continues to be open during the strike.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n