WSIB Job Reductions Impact Kingston and Beyond

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by HAVEN HOME HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

Aug 20, 2026 • Last updated 4 hours ago •

Harry Goslin, President of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750) speaks on Friday, June 13, 2025 to local striking WSIB workers in front of MPP Andrew Dowie’s constituency office in Windsor. Photo by Dan Janisse /

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board has revealed plans to cut jobs at its Kingston site along with nine others throughout Ontario as part of its consolidation efforts.

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“The WSIB is modernizing how we deliver service and we have made the difficult business decision to consolidate some claim and account management functions. We recognize this is difficult news for affected team members and their families,” said a spokesperson. “We will treat everyone fairly and with respect in recognition of the valuable role they have played on our team, including opportunities to relocate, access to resume writing, job-seeking services and a continuation of benefits including unlimited mental health support during this transition.”

While it will still provide services to individuals in Kingston, the spokesperson noted that with its office lease expiring this year, it will no longer have a physical location. It also added that it has not offered in-person services since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

According to CUPE Local 1750 (Ontario Compensation Employees Union), these cuts will lead to hundreds of job losses throughout Ontario.

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The announcement took many employees by surprise when they were informed on Wednesday. In Kingston alone, nearly twenty people are facing layoffs due their roles being deemed redundant.

In a video message directed at union members, OCEU president Harry Goslin confirmed both closures and layoffs while expressing his disappointment towards WSIB’s decisions as well as those made by provincial leaders.

“What the WSIB is doing right now is one of the worst attacks on workers in this province. It’s not a policy change. It’s not just an administrative shuffle. It is a direct attack on 466 permanent employees, on their livelihoods, your families, your communities, and your dignity; it’s a direct attack on injured workers you support every day,” said Goslin who mentioned while shutting down nine branches was wrong he insists they chose this path without being pressured by anyone else.

The Ontario Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy had announced earlier on August fifth that WSIB was among eight provincial agencies being reviewed for efficiency along with Metrolinx, the Liquor Control Boardof Ontario, and several others. Bethlenfalvy statedthese reviews aimedto ensureagenciesremain financially secure while maintaining essential services Ontarians depend upon.

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The announcement caused dismay among many workers who were notified Wednesday. In Kingston alone nearly twenty individuals will be impacted due totheir jobs being classifiedas redundant.

“Thesejobsarebeing taken awayby Doug Ford, notthe Donald Trump. We’resousedtoworryingabouttradedealsandworryingabouthow Donald Trumpisgoing tocausejobsto disappear, butjobsaredisappearingbecauseofthedecisionfromthe Doug Fordgovernment,”said Ted Hsu, a memberofprovincialparliamentfor Kingstonand The Islands.”That’sverydisappointing.”

“Today, the WSIBhasturnedtheirbackon10locationsandhundredsofworkers, andtheadministrationhasleftyoublindsided, cuttedout, andbetrayed,”Goslin toldhis members.”Thetruthissimple. The WSIBiseliminatingstable, family-supportingjobsincommunitiesalreadyfacingeconomicuncertainty. Theyareunderminingserviceto injuredworkers. Theyarecreatingchaoswhere therewasstability, andtheyaredoingitunderthedirectionof agovernmentbodythat hasnolawfulauthoritytoorderthis. Thisisnotresponsibleleadership. Thisisnottransparency. Thisisnotrespect.”

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The union initiatedacampaignacross Ontarioaimedat raising awareness about what’s happeningandputtingpressureonthe provincial government.

“We’llmake surethe Ontario governmentand WSIB leadershipunderstandexactlywhattheseclosuresmeanforinjuredworkersandforlocalcommunitiesandforthecommunitiestheyclaimtosupport, andwewilldoittogether,”Goslin said.”Thisunionisallofusunited, deterined, and unwillingtobepushedaside. Youarenotaloneinthisfight. Youarenotpowerless. Youarenotdisposable. Youaretothe backboneofthisorganization. Youarethepeoplewhomakethe WSIBwork, and Iamsoproudto standwithyou. Wewillfightthis. Wewillchallengethis, andwewillwin together.”