The nearly two-month WSIB strike that left injured workers across Ontario in limbo has finally come to an end. After 55 days of picket lines and service disruptions, roughly 1,800 Workplace Safety and Insurance Board employees returned to work Monday morning, bringing relief to thousands waiting for claim processing and benefit payments.
“It’s been an incredibly challenging time for everyone involved,” said Deena Ladd, executive director of the Workers’ Action Centre in Toronto, whom I spoke with yesterday. “Many injured workers have been facing serious financial hardship with claims delayed and uncertainty about when they’d receive benefits.”
The Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU) members voted to accept a new contract over the weekend, with about 78% voting in favor of the deal. While specific details haven’t been fully disclosed, the agreement reportedly includes improved wages and stronger protections around remote work arrangements – key sticking points throughout negotiations.
For Toronto construction worker Miguel Santos, the end couldn’t come soon enough. “I’ve been waiting six weeks for my claim to be processed after a back injury,” he told me at a coffee shop near his Etobicoke home. “My savings are completely drained, and I’ve had to borrow money from family just to make rent.”
The WSIB has acknowledged the significant backlog created during the work stoppage. According to their estimates, more than 18,000 new claims accumulated during the strike period, while thousands more faced processing delays. The agency has implemented what they’re calling a “return-to-service plan” to address the backlog as quickly as possible.
“Our priority is getting benefits flowing to injured workers who have been waiting,” said WSIB spokesperson Jennifer White. “We’ve developed a triage system to identify urgent cases and have staff working extended hours to process claims as efficiently as possible.”
For many small business owners across Toronto, the strike’s end also brings welcome relief. Premiums continued to be collected during the labour dispute, but services like clearance certificates – required documentation for many contractors – were significantly delayed.
“We couldn’t bid on new projects without our clearance certificate,” explained Sophia Chen, who owns a small commercial painting company in Scarborough. “That’s business we’ll never get back.”
The job action began on July 9 when workers walked off after negotiations broke down. Throughout the strike, the WSIB maintained that essential services continued, including emergency response, but many workers and advocates disputed this claim, pointing to widespread delays and communication difficulties.
Chris Buckley, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, expressed support for the returning workers while acknowledging the impact on injured workers. “Nobody wants to strike, but these employees stood up for fair working conditions. Now, they’re committed to working through the backlog as quickly as possible.”
The Ministry of Labour has indicated it will monitor the situation closely to ensure timely restoration of services. Minister David Piccini stated that the government expects the WSIB to “work diligently to address all outstanding claims promptly.”
For those still waiting, patience remains necessary. The WSIB has created a dedicated hotline for urgent cases and is encouraging those facing immediate financial hardship to contact them directly. They estimate it may take up to eight weeks to clear the most significant backlogs.
Community legal clinics across Toronto, including the Industrial Accident Victims Group of Ontario, have extended their hours to assist workers navigating the system during this recovery period.
As I walked past the WSIB headquarters on Front Street yesterday, the mood was noticeably different from recent weeks. Instead of picket signs and chants, employees were filing into the building, many expressing relief that the dispute had ended.
One returning employee, who asked to remain anonymous, summed up the sentiment: “It’s been tough on everyone – us, the injured workers, employers. We’re just glad to be back helping people who need it.”
The WSIB has promised weekly updates on their progress in addressing the backlog as they work to restore normal service levels across the province.
