The president of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750) joined striking Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) workers on Thursday as the province-wide strike entered its seventh week.
Harry Goslin joined the strike at the Etobicoke constituency office of Ontario Premier Doug Ford amid new allegations that the WSIB has begun “outsourcing core work” performed by frontline union members.
"We’re calling on Premier Ford and WSIB leadership to get serious," said Goslin. "Stop the outsourcing, get to the table, and settle this strike before any more damage is done."
According to The Gazette, Ford called Goslin this week and confirmed he had already asked Labour Minister David Piccini to connect with WSIB and help bring the parties together.
The premier also reportedly committed to speaking with Piccini again, specifically about the outsourcing and layoffs tied to Iron Mountain, which Ford indicated he would look into further.
Over 3,600 OCEU members have been on strike across Ontario, protesting chronic understaffing, stagnant wages, and the privatization of public services.
This marks the first strike in the WSIB's 110-year history.
Goslin condemned the alleged outsourcing, calling it "a betrayal of public trust - and a direct threat to every injured worker depending on a strong, stable, and public compensation system."
He said he told Ford they did not want the lockout, and remain ready to get back to the table to negotiate a fair deal.
"We just need a meaningful offer - one that reflects the value of our members' work and keeps Ontario jobs here, not outsourced," Goslin said.
Despite mediated talks, the union said that WSIB has yet to present a final offer, though the bargaining team remains ready to negotiate a fair agreement.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) counts OCEU as a member organization.
Last month, OCEU members delivered a formal letter and petition to the WSIB board of directors, demanding urgent action to end the ongoing labour dispute.
The letter, addressed to WSIB General Counsel David Luther, outlined serious concerns with the employer’s handling of negotiations, including delays, refusal to table a final offer, violations of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA), and unlawful retaliation against workers exercising their right to strike.
OCEU called on the board to immediately intervene and hold WSIB leadership accountable.
A petition signed by hundreds of striking workers across Ontario accompanied the letter, urging the board to bring negotiations to a fair and timely conclusion, deliver immediate workload relief and fair wages, and to respect the collective bargaining process.
“WSIB leadership has failed to bargain in good faith, failed to address dangerous workload levels, and failed to uphold the law,” said Goslin. “That’s why we’re taking this message directly to the Board.”
“They have the power — and the responsibility — to step in and stop the damage being done to injured workers, frontline staff, and Ontario’s economy.”
Details of the letter include:
