Latest news with #WSIBstrike
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
OCEU/CUPE 1750 President to Join Pickering Picket Line as WSIB Strike Hits One-Month Mark
PICKERING, Ontario, June 19, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the historic strike by Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) workers reaches the one-month mark, Harry Goslin, President of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750), will join the picket line in Pickering tomorrow, June 19 at 10:00 a.m., in a show of solidarity with members demanding a fair contract, mental health protections, and an end to unsafe workloads. The picket will take place outside the constituency office of Ontario's Minister of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy, sending a clear message to the Ford government that it must step up and ensure WSIB returns to the table with a deal that respects workers. Where: 1550 Kingston Rd., Pickering, ON (Constituency Office of Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy) Time: 10:00 a.m. "Our members have been walking the line for a month - not because they want to, but because they have to," said Harry Goslin, President of OCEU/CUPE 1750. "They're standing up for fairness, for their mental health, and for the public services that injured workers rely on. It's time for WSIB to deliver a real deal." Goslin's visit follows the release of a follow-up survey by the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), which shows WSIB staff are reporting anxiety and depression at more than twice the national average. The independent data highlights crushing workloads, toxic management, and a culture of denial as major drivers of burnout at WSIB. WSIB staff represented by OCEU/CUPE 1750 have been on strike since May 21, fighting chronic understaffing, stagnant wages, and the outsourcing of Ontario jobs to U.S.-based firms. This is the first strike in WSIB's 110-year history, with more than 3,600 workers off the job across the province. mb/cope491 View source version on Contacts For more information, please contact: Bill ChalupiakCUPE Communications Representativewchalupiak@ 416-707-1401 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
National Post
8 hours ago
- Business
- National Post
OCEU/CUPE 1750 President to Join Pickering Picket Line as WSIB Strike Hits One-Month Mark
Article content PICKERING, Ontario — As the historic strike by Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) workers reaches the one-month mark, Harry Goslin, President of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750), will join the picket line in Pickering tomorrow, June 19 at 10:00 a.m., in a show of solidarity with members demanding a fair contract, mental health protections, and an end to unsafe workloads. Article content The picket will take place outside the constituency office of Ontario's Minister of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy, sending a clear message to the Ford government that it must step up and ensure WSIB returns to the table with a deal that respects workers. Article content Where: Article content 10:00 a.m. Article content 'Our members have been walking the line for a month – not because they want to, but because they have to,' said Harry Goslin, President of OCEU/CUPE 1750. 'They're standing up for fairness, for their mental health, and for the public services that injured workers rely on. It's time for WSIB to deliver a real deal.' Article content Goslin's visit follows the release of a follow-up survey by the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), which shows WSIB staff are reporting anxiety and depression at more than twice the national average. The independent data highlights crushing workloads, toxic management, and a culture of denial as major drivers of burnout at WSIB. Article content WSIB staff represented by OCEU/CUPE 1750 have been on strike since May 21, fighting chronic understaffing, stagnant wages, and the outsourcing of Ontario jobs to U.S.-based firms. This is the first strike in WSIB's 110-year history, with more than 3,600 workers off the job across the province. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content For more information, please contact: Article content Article content Bill Chalupiak Article content Article content Article content
CTV News
2 days ago
- 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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
OCEU/CUPE 1750 President to Join North Bay Picket Line as WSIB Strike Enters Fourth Week
NORTH BAY, Ontario, June 17, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the strike by Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) workers enters its fourth week, the President of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750), Harry Goslin, will be on the North Bay picket line tomorrow, June 17th at 10:00 a.m., standing in solidarity with frontline workers demanding safer workloads, fair wages, and an end to outsourcing. The picket line will start at the intersection of Lakeshore and Judge, then proceed to march to the Constituency office of MPP Vic Fideli. His visit follows the release of a new independent survey by the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), which found that WSIB employees are experiencing anxiety and depression at more than twice the national average. The survey, commissioned by the union as a follow-up to a 2023 study, paints a disturbing picture of escalating psychological harm fueled by excessive caseloads, toxic management culture, and a leadership unwilling to address the growing strain on workers. Where: Beginning at the intersection of Lakeshore Blvd. and Judge, marching to MPP Vic Fideli's office at 219 Main St E, North Bay, ON P1B 1B2. Time: 10:00 a.m. "Our members are in crisis and the evidence is now undeniable," said Harry Goslin, President of OCEU/CUPE 1750. "They've been raising red flags for years about the toll this work is taking on their mental health. The Ford government and WSIB leadership have ignored them. I'm in North Bay to say enough is enough. We need action, not more delay tactics." Since May 21, over 3,600 workers have been on strike across Ontario, marking the first work stoppage in WSIB's 110-year history. Workers are calling for a fair deal that includes wage increases, improved staffing levels, and protections against the outsourcing of public services to private, U.S.-based firms. mb/cope491 View source version on Contacts For more information, please contact:Bill ChalupiakCUPE Communications Representativewchalupiak@ 416-707-1401
