First strike in history of WSIB hits London

For the first time in the agency's history, unionized WSIB workers are on strike. CTV London’s Bryan Bicknell reports.

Unionized staff for the Workplace Safety Insurance Board of Ontario are staging their first full strike in the history of the agency.

Hundreds lined Fullarton Street in front of the London office of WSIB in one of several pickets across the province Thursday.

Emotions were running high, as a crowd of more than 200 chanted “hey-ho, hey-ho Jeffrey Lang has got to go,” referring to WSIB President and CEO Jeff Lang.

“Today we are on strike. It’s the first time in the history of the WSIB. Our union is picketing because we have not been able to get a fair collective agreement,” said Suzanne Flannery, unit coordinator for the London office of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union/CUPE Local 1750.

The union represents 3,600 workers across the province, including about 240 in London. They have been without a contract since the end of April.

Members voted 96 per cent in favour of strike action.

“We are having a toxic workplace culture that’s impacting our ability to serve the injured workers of Ontario. We have high caseloads,” explained Flannery.

According to the union, WSIB has offered wage increases totaling 4.5 percent over three years. The employer says it has not received a response to its latest offer.

“That’s an initial offer that’s on the table, and what happens usually is if you disagree with somebody, you talk to them about it,” said Aaron Lazarus, WSIB VP of Communications. “So, what we’re hoping is that the executive of the union will come back and have a counter-offer, perhaps. They left the table on Monday. They didn’t respond to anything, and they haven’t spoken to us since,” he said.

Lazarus accuses union executives of putting themselves first.

“When they were at the table, they were mostly interested in talking about themselves. They want paid leave for six union executives, and they said they won’t talk about the 3,000 members and their needs until they resolve that issue for themselves,” he claimed.

WSIB claims 60 per cent of unionized staff earn more than $100,000 per year. It also says 100 net new case managers have been added since 2023 - an increase of five per cent. Further, caseloads for physical injury claims are down 60 per cent since 2021.

WSIB says non-unionized employees are providing priority services during the strike, including processing claims for those off work because of an injury.

In the meantime, those on the picket line said they’re standing pat. “We will be here until given further notice. We will be here again tomorrow,” exclaimed Flannery.