ONIWG: Frustrated Injured Workers Take Their Message to the Steps of the WSIB

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - December 12, 2016) - It has been a tough year for injured workers. The austerity agenda that has seen WSIB spending on benefits reduced by millions has continued, and now workers are being told that the Board's savings are being passed onto employers as an immediate 300+ million dollar cut to their rates.

Ontario Network of Injured Workers' Groups (ONIWG) and its supporters will rally at Simcoe Park and start treating every injured worker with respect.

"This year the WSIB's shortcomings have received an unprecedented amount of public attention," says ONIWG President Willy Noiles. "But as things get worse for Ontario's workers, we've seen new levels of cooperation between injured workers, advocates, legal experts, labour unions, doctors and more, all coming together to fight against Ontario's austerity programs, and fight for just compensation."

2016 has also seen a staggering increase in the number of complaints Ontario's Ombudsman has received about the compensation Board, including two major systemic complaints about the WSIB's treatment of injured workers.

At today's rally, injured workers and their allies will be demanding that the WSIB:

• Immediately change its policy on chronic mental stress. The existing law and policy around chronic mental stress has been declared in violation of Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but no changes have been made.
• Respect workers' treating doctors. In January 2016, injured workers and advocates from across Ontario submitted a complaint to the Ombudsman showing how the WSIB systematically ignores the opinions of treating doctors. In February, even WSIB President Tom Teahen acknowledged that the Board had a "systemic problem" with medical evidence. After an inadequate internal self-investigation, the Board has declared that everything is fine, but workers disagree.
• Give injured workers time to heal. WSIB's "Better At Work" policy pushes many injured workers to return to their jobs before they feel ready, sometimes against the wishes of their doctors. The WSIB justifies this by offering "evidence" from researchers who are often employed by the insurance industry.
• Extend WSIB coverage to all workers. Only about two thirds of Ontario's workplaces are covered by WSIB. Workplace injury can happen anywhere and coverage should be offered to everyone.

"Injured workers in this province are tired of being mistreated by a system that is designed to reduce costs, instead of a system that is designed to help workers," Noiles says. "Today we stand with all Ontario workers in our fight against austerity and in our fight for fairness for those who are injured on the job."