Latest news with #OntarioCompensationEmployeesUnion
Business Wire
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
OCEU President Harry Goslin to Join WSIB Strike Picket Line in Waterloo
WATERLOO, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Harry Goslin, president of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750), will join striking Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) workers on the picket line outside the constituency office of NDP MPP Catherine Fife at 100 Regina St. S. in Waterloo on Thursday, June 26 at 10:00 a.m. His appearance follows a renewed call from the union for WSIB leadership to finalize a fair deal before Canada Day, as the strike by more than 3,600 frontline workers stretches over two months. Where: Constituency office of MPP Catherine Fife — 100 Regina St. S., Waterloo Time 10:00 a.m. ET 'This strike cannot drag on any longer,' said Goslin. 'The WSIB has delayed long enough. Our bargaining team is a fully empowered decision-making body. What's missing is a mandate from WSIB leadership — especially the CEO — to finalize a deal and end this disruption.' These essential workers process injury claims, support safe return-to-work plans and deliver critical services to injured Ontarians. Despite repeated efforts by the union to reach a resolution, WSIB leadership has not tabled a final offer or allowed a member vote. 'We're calling on the WSIB to pull out all the stops and get this done before Canada Day,' said Goslin. 'It's time to finish the deal — and restore stability for injured workers across Ontario.' The union's team remains ready 24/7 to reach a settlement. Meanwhile, system breakdowns and mounting service delays have underscored the impact of the ongoing strike. mb/cope491
Business Wire
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
OCEU Vice President April Leblanc to Join WSIB Strike Picket Line in Thunder Bay
THUNDER BAY, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April Leblanc, Vice President of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750), will join striking Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) workers on the picket line at the corner of 605 Sibley Drive and Balmoral Street, near the Tim Hortons, in Thunder Bay on June 26, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Leblanc's visit comes as more than 3,600 frontline WSIB workers remain on strike across Ontario — now stretching beyond two months in the first labour disruption in the Board's 110-year history. The Thunder Bay picket is part of a province-wide mobilization effort aimed at increasing public and political pressure on WSIB leadership to deliver a fair and respectful contract for staff who support injured workers every day. Where: 605 Sibley Drive and Balmoral Street (near Tim Hortons), Thunder Bay Time 9:00 a.m. 'We're proud to have April Leblanc stand with our members in Thunder Bay,' said Harry Goslin, President of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750). 'Her presence underscores the strength and solidarity behind this strike — and the urgent need for the WSIB to come to the table with a fair deal. The delay lies entirely with senior leadership.' Despite ongoing mediated talks and a union team ready to negotiate 24/7, WSIB has failed to present a final offer. 'We're calling on the WSIB to show leadership and get this resolved before Canada Day,' added Goslin. 'It's time to reach a fair deal and restore stability for injured workers across Ontario.' mb/cope491
CTV News
17-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Union president joins WSIB picket lines in the north as strike enters its fourth week
As the WSIB strike drags on, Ontario Compensation Employees Union president Harry Goslin visited the picket line in North Bay on Tuesday to update them on contract negotiations. As the WSIB strike drags on, Ontario Compensation Employees Union president Harry Goslin visited the picket line in North Bay on Tuesday to update them on contract negotiations. The nearly four-week work stoppage is the first strike in the WSIB's 110-year history. 'The employer responded to the union's counteroffer with the same offer that they have been tabling last week,' Goslin said. WSIB 4 A total of 3,600 unionized workers, including around 30 staff members in North Bay and around 140 in Sudbury, walked off the job May 21. (Eric Taschner/CTV News) WSIB strike2 Ontario Compensation Employees Union president Harry Goslin said the employer offered the same contract in recent negotiations. (Eric Taschner/CTV News) 'We said to the employer, 'It's time for you to table your final offer. Give us your final and best offer. We'll turn our minds to it. We'd like to bring that to our members and let them decide.' WSIB says they're not prepared to table their final offer. So obviously they just want to continue this this lockout.' Goslin places the blame squarely on the employer. 'This is the only CEO and chairperson who hates unions, does not want to meet, and has refused to meet with me,' he said. 'Get over it. We don't have to like each other to do business and get this deal done.' A total of 3,600 unionized workers, including around 30 staff members in North Bay and around 140 in Sudbury, walked off the job May 21. WSIB strike 3 Aaron Lazarus, WSIB vice-president of communications, said the union refuses to accept 'yes for an answer.' (Eric Taschner/CTV News) A WSIB spokesperson told CTV News that a new contract could be had if Goslin accepted 'yes for an answer.' 'We've talked about wages. We have an offer on the table to make sure that 75 per cent of unionized employees make $100,000 or more,' Aaron Lazarus, WSIB vice-president of communications, told CTV News in a Tuesday afternoon interview. 'I know that's a lot for North Bay families and right across Ontario. I think this team is worth it because they do really great work.' The WSIB provides wage-loss benefits, medical coverage and support to people after a work-related injury or illness. It's funded by premiums paid by Ontario businesses. The key issues in this work stoppage are wage increases, staffing levels and workload. Union leaders allege rising caseloads and chronic understaffing are leading to worker burnout. Union, WSIB trade accusations 'This employer has lost their way. They are not a leader of the Ontario's injured,' Goslin stated said. The WSIB maintains that the union continues to misrepresent the facts, noting that since 2023, more than 100 net new staff have been added and that the average caseload for handling physical injury claims is down 60 per cent from its peak in 2021. 'What's important for people to know is that if they're on the job, WSIB is always going to be here to help them,' Lazarus said. 'There is no backlog of claims. Any claim that comes in gets registered on the same day, or we're making decisions on claims where somebody has missed work or housing that for people to make sure that if they need access to health care right now, they get it.' Lazarus said that the WSIB is achieving its 'best operating results in a decade.' The WSIB says 97 per cent of claims have an allowance decision within 10 days, up from 89 per cent in 2019, and that 82 per cent of people receive their first payment from the WSIB within 15 days of filing their claim. On Tuesday, striking workers rallied in front of Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli's Main Street office to deliver a letter demanding to know why the Ford government is allowing the WSIB to 'continue to play games at the bargaining table.' 'The Ford government has inserted themselves into approving the WSIB mandate for bargaining, which is wrong,' Goslin said. CTV News reached out to the Ontario Ministry of Labour for a response. However, the ministry declined to comment, referring media inquiries back to the WSIB. As workers wave flags and hold signs, they continue to say that they want a deal, but one that ensures they have the resources to help injured workers.
Toronto Star
26-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Thousands of WSIB workers enter ‘full' strike mode after being allegedly locked out
Thousands of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board members were at picket lines across Ontario for the third day as their union announced a 'full' strike — with no end to the work stoppage in sight. Members of the CUPE-affiliated Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU) had planned to be back in office Monday as part of their 'rolling' strike against the WSIB that started last Wednesday when talks between union executives and the employer stalled ahead of the May 21 deadline to reach a new collective agreement.
National Post
15-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
CUPE- A Letter to Ontario Workers
Article content TORONTO — Dear Ontario Workers, As the president of Ontario Compensation Employees Union, a proud member of CUPE, I represent over 3600 workers at the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB). Article content Article content Workplace Safety & Insurance Board employees serve workers, their families, and employers in Ontario, providing compensation for loss of earnings, benefits and health care coverage to eligible employees who suffered an injury or illness because of their job. Article content Before I was elected to represent this hard-working group, I worked as a case manager myself. It was my job to make sure injured workers, and their families got the support they needed. That's what most people know about the WSIB. Article content At 19, I lost half of my hearing because of a traumatic incident in a factory. I learned that injured workers need a conscientious WSIB worker looking out for their best interest. This is what my colleagues take pride in doing for injured workers in Ontario. Article content I'm sitting somewhere no union president wants to be; talking to the people of Ontario about the possibility that we could be forced to withdraw our labor from the place where we work and to pause the critical services we provide to this province. Article content This isn't something we take lightly. Every one of my coworkers wakes up in the morning thinking about the needs of Ontario's injured workers, and when we end our workday, we don't just turn that off. Article content The workers we serve aren't just names and medical records in a file. They are real people who have suffered a traumatic injury, been exposed to disease at work or in some cases lost their life. Those workers and their families need our help to make it through what can be one of the most challenging times in anyone's life. Article content We take that responsibility incredibly seriously. Article content We take pride in the fact that our organization is in a surplus position and has no unfunded liabilities. The WSIB is not funded by taxpayers. Funding comes solely from Ontario Employers. Our negotiations have ZERO impact on the Ontario budget. Article content I am calling on the Ford government and the WSIB CEO and Board of Directors to do their job and get these negotiations on the right path. To do what's right, and what's good for their workforce, good for the organization and the Ontarians we serve. Article content Too many of my coworkers are running on fumes due to work overload in a toxic environment as validated by a third-party survey. Article content When the workers who deliver the very services Ontarians rely on are struggling, it has an unavoidable impact on service delivery. I know we can do better. We must do better! Article content We urgently need resources and investment in training so that we can improve delivery of service. Once we do that, employee wellness will also improve. Article content The WSIB has been around for over 100 years and has never been on strike before. But things are so bad that my coworkers came out in a show of force to deliver a 96% strike vote with an over 85% participation rate. If we need to take legal strike action, we will be ready. Article content The union's decision to commence strike action will be informed by what happens in the coming days of bargaining. It was management that filed a surprise request to terminate the collective agreement. Our bargaining team has negotiated an extension for the negotiations until May 21st. We are committed to reaching a fair deal for our members, but we need a willing partner at the table to make that happen. Article content The WSIB is dreaming if they think we will accept a deal that includes employer cuts, that fails to address the very real and systemic work overload problem, micromanagement and that does not include fair compensation. Low employee morale at WSIB cannot be addressed by clawing back provisions in our collective agreement. But that is what WSIB is trying to do. Article content Workers have all too often observed management rationalize their raises and bonuses. It's workers who feel the sting of inflation. No one should be asked to do with less. Article content If the WSIB cannot present an offer that respects my coworkers and our needs, we will be forced to take legal strike action. Article content We don't want that to happen. Nothing concerns us more than the effect that job action might have on injured workers who need our help. We will do our best to mitigate those effects, we can't allow our employer to exploit our compassion for injured workers to force a deal that puts us even further behind. And we know Ontarians don't want this. Article content We are ready to do whatever it takes to get a deal. We've got amazing allies across the province. We hope the WSIB can see what the rest of us see and prevent this from happening. Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Article content Article content
