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OCEU/CUPE 1750 to Hold Media Availability Ahead of May 16th Strike Deadline

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The union representing workers at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) were surprised when their employer filed to terminate the Collective Agreement effective May 16th. The employer had its bargaining mandate for only 2 bargaining dates when management filed this request with the ministry, even as good-faith proposals presented by the union were being tabled.

The members of CUPE local 1750 are struggling with unreasonable workloads. Where the WSIB management sees only case numbers, the dedicated case managers, nurses, return to work specialists, health & safety specialists and other crucial workers see the people dealing with serious injuries that impact their daily lives. Except they’re not given enough time or resources. They used to get six months training. Now, it’s barely three with double the caseloads. These dangerously high workloads, coupled with a toxic work environment are impacting the members of CUPE local 1750’s own health, with instances of depression and anxiety almost double the national average. This slows down their ability to help and makes accessing the benefits injured workers rely on much more difficult.

The employer’s failure to negotiate with us tells us one thing loud and clear; they want to break our union, decrease permanent jobs and not address work overload. This is a continuation of a troubling trend among public sector employers negotiating in Doug Ford’s Ontario, undermining workers’ rights and cutting essential services for Ontarians.

Our members want to help the people of Ontario who need us, but the employer would rather force us to strike or lock us out. Our members deserve a fair deal, and a healthy workplace. We are prepared to fight to make that happen. We all deserve that; we are in it for you.

WHAT:

Media Availability

 

WHO:

Harry Goslin, President of OCEU/CUPE local 1750;

 

Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario;

 

Laura Walton, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour;

 

MPP Lise Vaugeois, NDP Critic for WSIB and Injured Workers;

 

MPP Jamie West, NDP Critic for Labour

 

 

WHY:

To provide a bargaining update for injured Ontario workers who rely on our members to

 

access their benefits.

 

 

WHEN:

9:30 AM Tuesday, May 13th, 2025

 

WHERE:

Queen’s Park media gallery

mb/cope491

Contacts

For more information, please contact:
Bill Chalupiak, CUPE Communications Representative
416-707-1401
wchalupiak@cupe.ca

Industry:

Canadian Union of Public Employees

Release Versions
English

Contacts

For more information, please contact:
Bill Chalupiak, CUPE Communications Representative
416-707-1401
wchalupiak@cupe.ca

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