March of Dimes Canada Flags Harm to Injured Workers as WSIB Strike Disruption Grows
TORONTO — The Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750) is responding to a letter received today from March of Dimes Canada (MODC) — a leading national charity supporting people with disabilities — highlighting the growing consequences of the ongoing WSIB lockout.
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In the letter addressed to OCEU President Harry Goslin, MODC outlines major disruptions to critical services for injured workers since the WSIB locked out its frontline workforce on May 21, 2025. These include:
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A complete halt in Employment Placement Service referrals from WSIB between May 20 and June 16, 2025 — with only limited referrals resuming since.
Suspended clinical assessments and coaching services, impacting people facing barriers to work due to health conditions, physical impairments, and psychological changes.
Delays in plan approvals, extension requests, and invoicing, due to the unavailability of WSIB staff to provide necessary direction.
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MODC noted, it typically receives at least 40 employment referrals per month, all aimed at helping injured workers regain financial independence and reduce reliance on WSIB benefits. The organization also conducted nearly 600 clinical assessments last year. Many of these services are now stalled, despite MODC staff being ready and willing to deliver them.
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Crucially, MODC called on the WSIB, the union, and the Government of Ontario to prioritize a resolution that restores services and protects the well-being of injured persons.
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'We thank March of Dimes Canada for stepping forward and naming what we've been hearing from workers, service providers, and employers across the province — the lockout is creating real consequences for people who rely on WSIB to rebuild their lives,' said Harry Goslin, President of OCEU/CUPE 1750. 'The longer this goes on, the more harm is being done. It's time for action.'
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The union continues to call on WSIB leadership and the Ontario government to act urgently. More than 3,600 frontline WSIB workers remain locked out, with unresolved issues around workloads, stagnant wages, and the outsourcing of Ontario jobs at the heart of the dispute.
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