Today marks three full weeks on strike for 3,600 members of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750), in the first full-scale work stoppage in the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s (WSIB) 110-year history.
As the Ford government continues to ignore calls to resolve the dispute, the impact on injured workers is growing. Internal WSIB communications recently obtained by the union quietly acknowledge growing claim backlogs contradicting public statements from management and raising further concerns about cuts to service standards.
“This crisis didn’t need to happen, and it can be resolved if WSIB and the Ford government show leadership,” said Harry Goslin, President of OCEU/CUPE 1750. “Instead, they’re sitting on the sidelines while injured workers face delays, Ontario jobs are outsourced, and frontline staff are stretched beyond their limits.”
The strike stems from dangerously high workloads, chronic understaffing, stagnant wages, and a toxic workplace culture. Making matters worse, WSIB has offloaded critical Ontario jobs to US-based firms like BetterUp and Iron Mountain, undermining public services and costing local jobs.
“We’re here because our members care deeply about supporting injured workers, but they are workers, too,” said Goslin. “They deserve safe workplaces, fair pay, and respect. That’s what this strike is about.”
WSIB has spent over $14.5 million on US consultants while refusing to invest in the frontline services Ontarians depend on. Meanwhile, workers on the picket lines have faced harassment, lockouts, and surveillance rather than a fair offer at the table.
Despite the disruption, OCEU/CUPE 1750 remains ready to negotiate and end the strike, but the employer must stop the intimidation, end the outsourcing, and return to the table with a deal that addresses the core issues.
“This strike can end tomorrow,” said Goslin. “It’s time for WSIB and the Ford government to stop delaying and start fixing what’s broken.”