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Hundreds of unionized workers at WSIB walk off job in Toronto as union calls for better offer
Hundreds of unionized workers at WSIB walk off job in Toronto as union calls for better offer

CBC

time22-05-2025

  • Business
  • CBC

Hundreds of unionized workers at WSIB walk off job in Toronto as union calls for better offer

Hundreds of unionized workers at Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board walked off the job in Toronto on Thursday as part of provincial rolling strikes after their union said they were unable to reach an agreement with their employer. Harry Goslin, president of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU), also known as CUPE Local 1750, which represents workers at the WSIB, said on Thursday that both sides have been negotiating for a new collective agreement since Feb. 25. The union was in a legal strike position as of Wednesday. Gosling said the employer has presented offers that the union cannot accept. He said the union would like to see a meaningful offer on the issues of workload, wages and workplace culture. The workload situation at the WSIB, in particular, is "dire," he added. He said caseload numbers are too high, the board hasn't hired enough workers and training needs to be improved. "Our anxiety levels and our depression are much higher than the national average, and despite this, the WSIB has refused to act. This has to change," Goslin said. Goslin added that the union believes the workplace is "toxic" — something the WSIB has denied. Some withdrawal of services during strikes Goslin said there will be some withdrawal of services during the rolling strikes. During the rolling strikes, the WSIB said people can continue to log in to its website to: report an injury or illness; submit documents for an existing claim; see claim, payment, and health benefit information in real time; register a new business; and access clearances WSIB said its employees not represented by OCEU are working to provide priority services during the rolling strikes. The union said in a news release that the pickets were to be set up on Thursday and Friday in Toronto, Kingston, London, North Bay, Ottawa, Sault Ste Marie, St. Catherines, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Timmins, and Windsor. On Thursday, up to 1,000 workers took part in Toronto, while 3,600 workers took part in all in Ontario. Union members took part in a rally outside a WSIB office at 200 Front Street W. on Thursday, marching up and down the street, carrying flags in the rain. In a speech to union members at the rally, Goslin said: "My coworkers and I are taking a stand right now, this year, this round of bargaining, to defend our wellness and our standard of living and to fight for a WSIB that prioritizes workers and their needs." According to the union, the latest WSIB offer proposes wage increases of two per cent in the first year, followed by 1.5 per cent in the second year and one per cent in the third year. Goslin said the union asked the employer to do better. WSIB turns off building access for striking workers Aaron Lazarus, vice-president of communications for the WSIB, said there is a "comprehensive offer" on the table but he declined to confirm the details. "We have lots of people who are so proud of the work that they do and that shines in our organization every day," he said. "I think that we have a really great place to work, I think that we are compensated well for it and I think we are very much looking forward to having everyone back at work so that we can help Ontarians." Lazarus said case managers working on long-time claims have seen the number of cases they oversee decrease over the past five years. "Workload actually isn't a definition in the collective agreement itself. There is, in the collective agreement, a note that we'll work together with the union in addressing that," Lazarus said. In a news release on Thursday, the WSIB said it has turned off technology and building access for those participating in a strike. The WSIB said the move is a "safety precaution" and was done to eliminate potential service disruptions. Jeff Lang, president and CEO of the WSIB, said in the release: "Our top priority is helping people. Rather than pursue further disruption, the WSIB 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."

Canada Post report recommends phasing out daily door-to-door mail delivery
Canada Post report recommends phasing out daily door-to-door mail delivery

CTV News

time16-05-2025

  • Business
  • CTV News

Canada Post report recommends phasing out daily door-to-door mail delivery

CTV's Jeremie Charron breaks down the Canada Post report, key recommendations, union strike threat, and where talks stand. CTV's Jeremie Charron breaks down the Canada Post report, key recommendations, union strike threat, and where talks stand. Canada Post needs to make 'significant changes' to stay afloat OTTAWA — OTTAWA — A consequential report on Canada Post largely backs the Crown corporation's story about its flagging business, experts say, and bodes poorly for the union attempting to negotiate a better deal for the postal service's workers. 'If I was the union, I'm going to be very, very disappointed in this,' said Marvin Ryder, associate professor of marketing and entrepreneurship at the DeGroote School of Business. The Industrial Inquiry Commission report lands with less than a week left for the Crown corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to reach a new collective bargaining deal -- a deadline that could see mail deliveries halted again after a short reprieve from the holiday season strike. The 162-page report made public Friday also recommends foundational changes for Canada Post, including phasing out daily door-to-door letter mail delivery for individual addresses while maintaining daily service for businesses. It says the moratoriums on rural post office closures and community mailbox conversions should be lifted as well. 'My recommendations are based on my conclusion that there is a way to preserve Canada Post as a vital national institution,' commissioner William Kaplan wrote in the report. 'I have designed them to respond to the present problem: to arrest and then reverse the growing financial losses by putting into place the necessary structural changes both within and outside the collective agreements.' The report was called for after Ottawa asked the federal labour board to send postal employees back to work last year to end a strike that was disrupting holiday mail deliveries. The report examined the state of Canada Post and its finances, in relation to reaching a labour deal. Kaplan said that both sides were 'diametrically opposed,' leading to stalemates at the bargaining table, but he put the onus for failing to reach a deal on one side in particular. 'Bargaining largely failed because one party -- CUPW -- is defending business as usual,' the report said, arguing the union is pushing for improvements on the 'status quo.' 'In essence, his report is saying, 'Hey union, you've got to change your tune,'' Ryder said. 'Now, will they? I don't know, and so I would like to think this report is going to trigger some intense negotiations over the next few days.' Kaplan wrote that Canada Post is facing an existential crisis and is effectively insolvent. 'Without thoughtful, measured, staged, but immediate changes, its fiscal situation will continue to deteriorate,' he wrote. Canada Post CEO Doug Ettinger said in a statement Friday that Kaplan's report offers the Crown corporation, its employees and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers 'a frank and straightforward assessment' of the challenges facing the postal service. He welcomed the report's recommendations and said they come at a 'critical time' as Canada looks to strengthen its economy to guard against U.S. threats. Kaplan said that until recently, Canada Post was able to operate in a financially sustainable manner as low-cost urban and suburban mail delivery subsidized high-cost delivery to rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. 'This model no longer works because the traditional core business -- mail delivery -- has fundamentally changed: fewer letters must now be delivered to more addresses,' he wrote. Stephanie Ross, associate professor in the school of labour studies at McMaster University, agreed with Ryder that 'on balance, (Kaplan) sides with the employer' in the report. Among its other recommendations, the report says Canada Post must have the flexibility to hire part-time employees to deliver parcels on the weekend and to assist with volume during the week. It also says Canada Post must also be able to change routes daily to reflect volumes. Throughout negotiations, CUPW has pushed back on proposals that would see Canada Post take on part-time workers to fill shifts, arguing those moves could compromise job security for full-time employees. Kaplan did state that any part-time work 'should not be gigified jobs, but good jobs, attractive jobs,' that fall under the umbrella of terms in the collective agreement. Ross said that recommendation was a silver lining for CUPW, but it will nonetheless be a difficult pill for the union to swallow if full-time workers are displaced and forced to instead take on involuntary part-time work. 'I'm left with a set of recommendations that are, I think, very bracing,' she said. 'And I don't know what's really in it here for the union except the sense that, if they don't agree to these measures, they may not have jobs in the long run.' The reprieve provided by the federal labour board expires on May 22, at which point a labour disruption could resume. Ryder noted that process is not automatic, and the union will have some leeway on when or if it wants to trigger a strike. Ross said she does not, at first read, think the report moves the negotiations toward a resolution. While the report makes the case that CUPW might need to make concessions, she said what's still missing is an upside for workers if they were to abandon some of their sticking points. 'There's no reason to think there won't be a restarting ... of the labour disruption,' Ross said. CUPW confirmed it received a copy of the report on Thursday but has not commented on Kaplan's findings. The union was set to meet with Patty Hajdu, the newly sworn-in minister of jobs and families, on Friday to discuss the report and negotiations. Hajdu said in a statement posted to social media Friday afternoon that the report 'offers thoughtful suggestions on how to continue good-faith negotiations.' 'It's time for everyone to put aside their differences, focus on shared goals, and ensure a strong postal system now and into the future,' she said in a post on X. Earlier in the week, Canada Post had hit 'pause' on negotiations with the union. The corporation said at the time it was regrouping after several days of unproductive talks to come up with proposals for the union that reflect the postal service's financial reality. CUPW dismissed this as a 'tactic' and accused the employer of refusing to negotiate with 'real intent.' On Friday, Ettinger said Canada Post 'will work with our bargaining agents and our shareholder, the Government of Canada, to address our challenges and secure a sustainable path forward.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2025 Article written by Craig Lord, The Canadian Press

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