Union members vote 97.3 percent in favour of strike action
Workers at Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) have given their union a strike mandate. The membership voted 97.3 percent in favour of strike action, as negotiations with the employer reach a tipping point.
“With a participation rate of over 87%, my co-workers have sent a powerful message to our employer. We are united. We are determined. We will not accept cuts. And we will not fall behind inflation,” says Harry Goslin, president of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU) / Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1750 president. “I am proud of my coworkers for standing up and demanding better.”
The bargaining committee is back at the negotiating table this week for three days with a mediator from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
WSIB employees support Ontarians who have been hurt on the job by working with employers to provide compensation for loss of earning, benefits, and health care coverage.
According to a press release issued by CUPE, WSIB employees are seeking better compensation as well as “a plan to improve workload problems, solutions to resolve numerous grievances, and a process to guarantee they have the resources to improve service delivery for both workers and employers in Ontario.”
Goslin says their demands would help improve services for Ontario workers and employers alike, while also improving the lives of their members. “But WSIB would rather force over 3,500 hardworking members to strike instead of bargaining a fair contract,” says Goslin, who points out that management has seen raises and bonuses while their members have been financially hurt by inflation.
“No one should be asked to do with less. No one should have their earnings fall behind inflation,” explains Goslin, who says the WSIB has sought cuts to vacation and holiday entitlements.
“These CUPE members are a lifeline to injured workers every day who provide a critical service. That’s why CUPE has campaigned to expand WSIB coverage to all workers in the province,” says Fred Hahn, CUPE Ontario President. “CUPE Ontario will fight alongside them to push back against concessions and secure a decent raise after years of stagnation.”
Canadian Occupational Safety will keep you up to date on the contract negotiations.
