The union representing WSIB workers says regional office closures have caused increased workloads for employees and increased wait times for workers making claims.
Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU) president Harry Goslin was joined by MPP Lisa Gretzky in Windsor on Tuesday to call on the government to support workers in Ontario.
"We have over 100,000 items in que, we have over 12,000 cases that are unassigned; we have 300 people that have left. There was no reduction in work and the organization is struggling; it's pandemonium, people are waiting two to three hours to get through on the phone," said Goslin.
Vice President of Communications with the WSIB, Aaron Lazarus, says nine out of 10 people who are injured as a result of work are able to return to work within three months - and that service level has been maintained since the closure of several regional offices.
"We are able to make decisions within 10 days and 95 per cent of those claims and we're able to get that first payment out, we're at about 84 per cent right now which is right in our target range of what we set out to do," said Lazarus.
In Windsor, 160 positions were lost when the WSIB consolidated its locations. Around 140 of the employees chose not to move to a different location. Goslin said those reductions have created a negative work environment for employees.
"The workload hasn't disappeared, but the workers have. That contradiction of overtime and bringing in contract people tells the truth about these closures; this is not modernization, this is not transformation, this is not maintaining service," said Goslin.
Lazarus said the consolidation was about finding efficiencies and cost savings.
"Businesses in Windsor are paying Ontario WSIB premium rates that we want to make sure are as low as possible, but we also want to make sure that we're able to help people, and that's why no matter where you are, whether it's in Windsor or Ottawa, you're going to be getting WSIB service anywhere in Ontario."
MPP Gretzky is urging anyone experiencing delays to contact their government officials
"Injured workers deserve timely, person-to-person support, not more barriers to accessing the benefits and protections they have earned. The Ford government and their handpicked WSIB appointee, Jeff Lang, must explain how cutting frontline staff and closing regional offices improves service for injured workers their families," said Gretzky.
