Union and management remain at odds over staffing, workloads and wages
Negotiations between the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU), represented by CUPE Local 1750, continue as the union warns of a potential strike, citing concerns over staffing, workloads, and wages.
The deadline for reaching an agreement, which was initially set for May 16, has been extended to May 21.
Harry Goslin, president of CUPE Local 1750, accused the WSIB of exploiting workers' "compassion for injured workers in order to force a deal that puts us even further behind." The union, which represents WSIB employees, has argued that staffing levels are inadequate to manage claims effectively, workloads are too high, and training has been shortened, creating additional strain on workers.
"We can’t let the WSIB exploit our compassion for injured workers," said Goslin. "We are fighting for the fair treatment and support our members deserve, so they can continue providing vital services to injured workers."
The WSIB, however, disputes these claims. Christine Arnott, a spokesperson for the WSIB, emphasized that the organization has increased staffing and improved service delivery in recent years.
“Since 2023, over 100 net new team members have been added to the case management team, an increase of over 5%,” said Arnott. “The average case load for a case manager handling physical injury claims is down 60% from its peak in 2021.”
Arnott also responded to concerns about wages, noting that about 60 percent of WSIB’s unionized staff appear on the annual sunshine list of public service employees earning over $100,000.
The most recent contract, a deal reached in June 2023, expired on April 30. The union says it will be in a legal strike position as of May 21.
This situation mirrors the last round of bargaining, that also saw the deadline extended before reaching a last-minute deal. That agreement lasted only two years, and Goslin says the union wants a longer period of stability this time.
The WSIB maintains it is committed to reaching a fair and reasonable agreement.
