More than 200 union employees with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board have lost their jobs in northern Ontario, as the agency says it is closing nine offices across the province.
The news was announced Wednesday, with job losses totalling more than 460 across Ontario.
All 3,700 unionized WSIB workers in the province are represented by the Ontario Compensation Employees Union through CUPE Local 1750.
Union president Harry Goslin said the news was a shock.
“This came to us as an absolute surprise. This has been a gut punch,” Goslin said.
Job cuts in northern Ontario include 136 union positions in Sudbury, 55 in Thunder Bay, 20 in Sault Ste Marie, 15 in North Bay and 12 in Timmins.
Goslin said the decision “wipes” out the entire WSIB workforce in the north.
There has not been a WSIB storefront in Sudbury since 2022.
In an email to CTV News, a spokesperson for WSIB said that despite the job cuts, services will be maintained.
“How people here access our services does not change and we’re here to help with local return-to-work and health care supports,” the email said.
“We continue to expand health care access here and now partner with 91 physical and mental health care providers in Sudbury. We will also continue to have a local team to provide in-person return to work support.”
“We will treat everyone fairly and with respect in recognition of the valuable role they have played on our team.”
— Statement from the WSIB
The statement said that the WSIB made “the difficult business decision to consolidate claim and account management functions,” which led to “adjustments to local staffing needs.”
‘This is difficult news’
“We recognize this is difficult news for impacted team members and their families,” the statement said.
“We will treat everyone fairly and with respect in recognition of the valuable role they have played on our team. That includes access to resume writing, job-seeking services and a continuation of benefits including unlimited mental health support during this transition.”
Goslin said the restructuring is a disservice for workers in the region who want in-person service to file an insurance claim or speak with a local adjuster.
“They won’t be able to come into the door to get one-on-one service,” he said.
“That’s just dead wrong. I see that as a complete lack of service.”
Goslin said that WSIB leadership has turned their backs on northern Ontario.
“Decision-makers in your local community means you have people who understand what life is like in those communities,” he said.
Goslin said the union is planning a campaign to “save every single one of these jobs and protect services for workers.”
The WSIB is spending $125 million in Sudbury for the new Ontario Mine Rescue Training Academy.
