The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board has shared that it will be letting go of employees at its Kingston office, along with nine other locations throughout Ontario as part of a consolidation effort.
“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 continue to serve individuals in Kingston, the spokesperson mentioned that due to the expiration of its office lease this year, there won’t be a physical location anymore. They also pointed out that they haven’t provided in-person services since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
As reported by CUPE Local 1750, also known as Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU), these cuts will lead to hundreds of job losses across the province.
The announcement took employees by surprise when they were informed on Wednesday. In Kingston, nearly 20 people will face job loss because their roles have been deemed redundant.
In a video message directed at union members, OCEU president Harry Goslin confirmed not only the closures but also expressed his disappointment toward both WSIB and the provincial government.
“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, and it is a direct attack on the injured workers you support every day,” said Goslin, who claimed that while closing these nine branches was wrong, he believes it was their decision without pressure from the province.
Even though Ontario Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy announced on Aug. 5 that WSIB was one of eight provincial agencies under review for efficiency and productivity alongside Metrolinx, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Legal Aid Ontario and four others; he emphasized these reviews aimed at keeping agencies financially sound while protecting essential services for Ontarians.
“These jobs are being taken away by Doug Ford, not Donald Trump. We’re so used to worrying about these trade negotiations worrying about how Donald Trump is gonna cause jobs to disappear but jobs are disappearing because of decisions from Doug Ford’s government,” said Ted Hsu, member of provincial parliament for Kingston and The Islands. “That’s very disappointing.”
“Today, the WSIB has turned their back on 10 locations and hundreds of workers; administration has left you blindsided cut out and betrayed,” Goslin stated to his members. “The truth is simple: The WSIB is eliminating stable family-supporting jobs in communities already facing economic uncertainty. They are undermining service to injured workers creating chaos where there was stability doing it under direction from a government body lacking lawful authority for such action. This isn’t responsible leadership or transparency; it’s lacking respect.”
The union has kicked off a provincewide campaign aimed at revealing what’s happening while putting pressure on the Ontario government.
“We’ll ensure both the Ontario government and WSIB leadership grasp what these closures mean for injured workers local communities they say they support-and we’ll do this together,” said Goslin. “This union represents all of us united determined unwilling to be sidelined; you’re not alone in this fight you aren’t powerless or disposable-you are crucial to making WSIB work-and I’m proud to stand beside you through this struggle together we’ll challenge this move-we’ll win.”
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