Union members 'cultivating an environment of fear… for employees who continue to want to show up and support people who were injured at work,' says WSIB
Thousands of workers at Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) have gone on strike following a breakdown in contract negotiations between the employer and the union representing the employees.
Nearly 4,000 staff responsible for supporting injured workers in the province officially walked off the job Thursday morning.
In a May 22 press release, the WSIB said it "remains at the bargaining table" and has not heard from the union since Monday. The WSIB has submitted the most recent offer in the negotiation process and is awaiting a response.
As a part of its response, the organization said it has initiated its business continuity protocol, which involves turning off technology and building access for those participating in a strike: "This is a safety precaution and done with the goal of eliminating potential disruptions in service for people that rely on the WSIB."
The WSIB said it is focused on bargaining, and ensuring critical services continue to be offered: "We will do everything in our power to support people who rely on what we do,” said Jeff Lang, President and CEO of the WSIB.
Withdrawal of services by WSIB workers
Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1750 initiated a full withdrawal of services, effectively taking their members on strike, said the WSIB.
"As a part of this, union executives have instructed members to call in to jam WSIB phone lines, cultivating an environment of fear and anxiety for employees who continue to want to show up and support people who were injured at work. This may cause longer than normal wait times for services, but the WSIB has re-deployed resources to ensure critical functions continue."
WSIB employees are well compensated in both benefits and wages, said Lang.
"We want them to continue to be paid well for the work that they do," he said. "We are ready to reach an agreement that is fair for our employees and focused on delivering better, easier, and faster service to the people who need us."
Earlier this month, workers at IKEA’s Montreal store launched a strike, citing stalled contract negotiations, insufficient wage offers, and the absence of inflation indexing as key concerns.
WSIB negotiations since February 2025
Harry Goslin, president of the OCEU, says both parties have been negotiating a new collective agreement since February 25, reports CBC.
“Our members are committed to supporting injured workers in Ontario. We do the work we do because we care about the people behind the case files, but we are workers too, and right now our employer is trying to bully us into accepting the status quo,” says Goslin in a press release. “We have done everything we can to try and negotiate, but without a willing partner at the table we are unable to reach an agreement. Instead, the management team is trying to sow division in our union with lies and threats. They are clearly not interested in finding common ground.”
The OCEU is seeking a meaningful offer from the WSIB that addresses concerns around workload, wages, and workplace culture, according to CBC.
Goslin describes the workload situation as “dire,” claiming that caseloads are too high, staffing levels are inadequate, and training needs substantial improvement.
“Our anxiety levels and our depression are much higher than the national average," he says.
In December 2024, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) ordered striking Canada Post employees to return to work.
Delayed services at WSIB
People can continue to use the online services to report an injury or illness, manage their claim or account and submit documents, says the WSIB.
But during the labour disruption, phone calls about claims "should be limited to fatalities or serious injuries, people who are off work and not being paid, and people who need access to health care."
WSIB said its efforts will be focused on:
- People who have been ill or injured: fatalities or serious injuries, people who are off work and not being paid, and people who need access to health care. For other claim-related services, please log in to the online services.
- Businesses: premium reporting, clearances and time-sensitive registrations for businesses that need immediate coverage through online services or email [email protected] for non-urgent issues.
- Health care providers: urgent questions about prescriptions, equipment and supplies, program of care treatment extensions, or to determine the suitability of a program for a person injured at work.
In addition, for the duration of the labour disruption, the WSIB said it will provide a grace period for the objection time limit from the date of the disruption until we resume regular service.
And to support critical processes during the labour disruption, all scheduled hearings or worksite meetings will be postponed effective immediately until further notice.
"While we will try to send out a cancellation notification, we cannot guarantee a notification will be sent. We apologize for this inconvenience. When we resume regular service, we will contact you to reschedule your hearing/meeting at a later date."
