TORONTO — The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has confirmed the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU) has decided to come back to the table.
“The WSIB remains committed to reaching a fair, and reasonable agreement that recognizes the needs of people who are injured as our top priority,” the board states.
This news comes after members of OCEU/CUPE 1750 initiated legal job action on May 21 after talks stalled ahead of the midnight deadline. The key issues on the table are workload and bringing pay back on par with inflation after the impacts of the pandemic and Bill C-124, states a release from the union.
“The WSIB management has said they view our members legal job action on Wednesday (May 21) as a strike and have locked our members out of the computer systems and sent workers home,” said Harry Goslin, president of the union, in a May 26 statement. “Our intention has been to conduct rolling strikes to limit the impact on injured workers in Ontario, but it seems management has other ideas.”
The union held a strike vote on May 1 and received a 96 per cent yes vote from members.
The WSIB has stated it will continue to process claims and pay income support to those off work due to work-related injury or illness during a labour disruption.
“Our number one concern is helping the people who depend on us for support,” said Jeffery Lang, WSIB president and CEO. “We are focused on making sure income support continues for people as they recover from an injury or illness. The WSIB is here to help.”
WSIB employees not represented by OCEU are providing services during the strike.
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