The Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750) spent the weekend in mediated negotiations with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and remains focused on reaching a fair deal that addresses the serious workload and mental health crisis facing frontline staff.
The union is awaiting a response from the employer and expects further communication on Monday.
“We’ve been in talks with the mediator and are standing by, ready to continue bargaining,” said Harry Goslin, President of OCEU. “We’ve done our part to keep things moving and are hopeful the employer will respond promptly so we can make meaningful progress.”
The union emphasized that the situation remains urgent, with workloads and wages still at the core of the dispute. The Ford government’s involvement in setting wage mandates has also made it harder to reach an agreement, while the employer continues to push for regressive language that would worsen working conditions.
This weekend’s negotiations came just days after the release of a troubling new follow-up survey showing WSIB staff are experiencing anxiety and depression at twice the national average—results that reflect a growing mental health crisis. The independent survey, conducted by the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), found that workloads, toxic management, and denial from leadership are fueling burnout across the organization.
“These conditions are harming not only staff, but also the injured workers who depend on us,” said Goslin. “Despite it all, our members continue to show up, speak up, and push for real change.”
OCEU/CUPE 1750 remains committed to a fair settlement and restoring services for the people of Ontario. As the strike continues into its fourth week, all picket lines across cities in Ontario will remain active.