The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is laying off 466 employees throughout the province, a move described by the union as a “gut punch.”
In a statement on Thursday, the organization announced it had made a “difficult business decision to consolidate” certain back-office positions in claims and account management for remote workers.
“We recognize this is difficult news for impacted team members and their families,” the WSIB stated.
“We will treat everyone fairly and with respect in recognition of the valuable role they have played on our team. That includes opportunities to relocate, access to resumé writing, job seeking services and a continuation of benefits including unlimited mental health support during this transition.”
Employees affected are based in Sudbury, Windsor, Thunder Bay, St. Catharines, Guelph, Sault Ste. Marie, Kingston, North Bay and Timmins. The actual number of job losses may be fewer than 466 as some individuals are offered relocation options, according to the WSIB.
The Ontario Compensation Employees Union, part of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, has also been informed that an additional 155 jobs will be cut in Waterloo within about a year.
“I’ve been dealing with this for a few days now, where we have been trying to negotiate some mitigation with the WSIB,” said president Harry Goslin. “Every day is like a gut punch.”
The WSIB assured there would still be local teams available in those regions providing face-to-face support for people returning to work; however, Goslin noted that losing staff will lead to delays in service for injured workers.
“People will be waiting longer to get a return call,” he mentioned.
“They’ll wait longer to get a decision. They’ll wait longer to get their health-care costs reimbursed or access healthcare services they need and referrals for return-to-work services they rely on.”
NDP critic Lise Vaugeois expressed that it feels like a betrayal of workers.
“At a time when demand for workers in construction, forestry and mining is increasing, the WSIB has now made it exponentially harder for people to access support,” she wrote in her statement.
Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser criticized that the WSIB is abandoning northern Ontario where half of these job cuts are focused.
“Communities across the north have already faced tariffs, plant closures and layoffs while unemployment rates remain near historic highs,” he wrote in his statement.
“These are good stable jobs that support families, local businesses and regional economies.”
The WSIB is among several large public agencies set for review by the provincial government over the coming months. Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy announced earlier this month that bodies including WSIB along with Liquor Control Board of Ontario and Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario will undergo efficiency evaluations.
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