Ontario injured worker activists unite for better protections

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Toronto – June 2, 2017 – UFCW Canada activists recently joined hundreds of injured worker advocates from across Ontario at a downtown Toronto rally in support of injured workers' rights.

The June 1 rally was one of many actions marking Injured Workers' Day across the province. Activists at the Toronto action marched from the Ontario legislature to the Ministry of Labour offices, advocating against the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board's (WSIB) ongoing austerity measures and cuts to prescription drug benefits. For example, the Industrial Accident Victims Group of Ontario (IAVGO) recently reported that the WSIB cut spending on prescription drugs by one-third between 2010 and 2015, while reducing the number of claimants that are eligible for drug benefits.

The rally, organized by the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG), called for a just WSIB system for all Ontario workers, including full compensation for lost wages, and an end to the practice of using pre-existing conditions to reduce workers' compensation.

"It is shameful that workers are still being blamed and punished for injuries suffered on the job," says UFCW Canada National President Paul Meinema. "We must continue to fight for the comprehensive coverage that all injured workers are entitled to, while also pressing the government to provide stricter enforcement of safety laws, and criminal prosecution of employers who ignore their safety responsibilities," the UFCW leader adds.

For decades, UFCW Canada has been at the forefront of advocating for the rights of injured workers and helping to create safer workplaces across the country. UFCW Canada also provides free health and safety courses – offered through our webCampus platform – that empower members and their families with valuable information and resources for identifying and solving workplace health and safety concerns. To learn more these courses, click here.