The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is implementing significant job reductions and the closure of its physical offices in northern Ontario. The Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU) disclosed that positions will be eliminated in various northern Ontario cities, with Thunder Bay losing 55 jobs, Sault Ste Marie 20, Sudbury 136, North Bay 15, and Timmins 12. Additionally, more than 300 jobs will be cut in centers in Guelph, Kingston, St. Catharines, Waterloo, and Windsor.
Harry Goslin, president of the OCEU, expressed concerns about the impact of these cuts on injured workers in Ontario. He highlighted existing workload challenges and emphasized the potential adverse effects on providing services to the community in northern Ontario. According to Goslin, certain in-person services will still be available in northern Ontario, but other roles, including nurses and payment representatives, will be relocated to southern Ontario.
WSIB responded to inquiries by stating that the consolidation of claim and account management functions necessitated role relocation and adjustments to local staffing requirements. The agency acknowledged the difficulty of this decision for affected employees and their families. Impacted staff members will receive support for resume writing, job search assistance, and mental health services.
Steve Mantis, treasurer of the Thunder Bay and District Injured Workers Support Group, criticized the lack of consideration for northern workers. While WSIB assured that service accessibility remains unchanged, Mantis raised concerns about the availability of in-person support and the potential challenges of dealing with staff unfamiliar with the region. Mantis emphasized the importance of having local staff to effectively assist northern communities.