TORONTO – Yesterday marked the first annual Injured Worker’s Day in Ontario; a solemn occasion to reflect on the impact of workplace injuries, and a time to come together to strive for better supports for injured workers. The bargaining team for OCEU/CUPE 1750, who represent workers at Ontario’s WSIB took a brief pause from the bargaining table to attend the rally held on the lawn at Queen’s Park. They joined MPPs Jamie West, Lise Vaugeois, and Wayne Gates, along with the President of the OFL Laura Walton and ONIWG leaders, who came together to mark the occasion, and to remember the life of Willie Nollis, the former president of ONIWG and life-long activist for Injured Workers.
“Successive Conservative and Liberal governments have eroded our workers’ compensation system, limiting the scope of coverage and benefits,” said Harry Goslin, OCEU’s President. “It is time to reverse this trend and expand coverage and benefits, prioritizing injured workers over rebates to employers.”
OCEU has long advocated for key reforms that would improve accessibility and service to Ontario workers injured on the job. Among the reforms they have proposed are the expansion of WSIB coverage to all Ontario workers, a reversal of the loss of earnings benefits cuts from the Harris government, active enforcement to end claim suppression by employers, an end of the practice of “deeming,” which leaves workers in poverty, and improved staffing levels at the WSIB to better help workers when injuries happen and Ontario’s safe work associations to better prevent injuries from happening.
OCEU is continuing to meet with their employer to negotiate a fair contract overnight. The union expects picket lines will continue through Monday.
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For more information, please contact:
Bill Chalupiak
CUPE Communications Representative
416-707-1401
mb/cope491
