CUPE's (Canadian Union of Public Employees) reflect on a new Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) ad campaign, which aims to shed light on what the union perceives as the Ontario government's betrayal of injured workers. The campaign criticizes the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board's (WSIB) recent decision to issue a $2 billion rebate to employers. CUPE argues that this action contradicts WSIB's foundational mission of prioritizing support for injured workers. Instead of utilizing surplus funds to enhance worker benefits or improve workplace safety, the board's rebate is seen as favoring businesses over injured employees.
CUPE members, including Harry Goslin, President of CUPE 1750-OCEU, express concerns that successive governments have failed to invest in worker safety and have not reversed cuts to compensation levels and services. Over 1.5 million Ontario workers do not currently have WSIB coverage leaving them at risk when they go to work every single day. Universal coverage would add $205 million to Ontario’s economy and save more than $100 million in OHIP costs. The $2 billion could also have gone to restoring benefits supports cut during the Harris conservative government, restoring investments in Ontario’s Health and Safety system to prevent injuries and illnesses, and putting an end to claims suppression – all steps that would have shown Provincial Government’s commitment to supporting Ontario workers.
The importance of restoring benefits and supports that have been reduced during previous administrations, as well as bolstering investments in Ontario's health and safety systems. CUPE argues that WSIB’s actions, including benefit reductions and employer rebates, align more closely with the practices of a profit-driven insurance company rather than a worker-focused organization. This approach has created significant workload challenges for WSIB employees, further exacerbating the struggles faced by injured workers seeking timely and adequate support.
CUPE calls for WSIB to return to its original mandate of supporting and protecting Ontario workers, especially during times of economic hardship. The union emphasizes the need for robust reforms to ensure that workplace injuries are prevented, and those who are injured receive the compensation and care they deserve. The campaign also raises concerns about the broader implications of these decisions, particularly their impact on Ontario's workforce and the economy.
