WSIB offer to OCEU members

The WSIB values our team. It’s because of the work they do that we have been able to achieve the best return-to-work results in a decade. That means more people having a timely, safe, and lasting return to what matters after a work-related injury or illness.

While inflation holds steady at 1.7%, we believe our team is worth investment above that threshold. We believe they are worth the generous benefits they and their families currently receive, and the improvements noted below. Our team is valued because we believe in all of us achieving our full potential to fulfill the purpose of the WSIB – to help people.

Below are some of the highlights of our latest offer to our valued OCEU team members.

Wages:

The offer covers three years, retroactive to May 1, 2025, and would see the average unionized salary rise from $98,000 to over $104,500. The latest offer includes wage increases above the rate of inflation:

  • May 1, 2025 – 2.50%
  • May 1, 2026 – 2.25%
  • May 1, 2027 – 2.00%

Benefits:  

The WSIB’s benefits program is best-in-class. The latest offer builds on this, including:

  • Paramedical – increase current entitlement from $1,500/year to $1,750/year per family member.
  • Hearing aids – increase current entitlement from $1,500/year to $1,600/year per family member.
  • Insulin pumps – increase current entitlement from $1,250 to $1,500 per family member.
  • Intraocular lenses – add coverage for intraocular lens following cataract surgery.  
  • Intrauterine devices (IUDs) – add coverage for prescription IUDs.
  • Extended health and dental coverage starts on the date of employment instead of having to wait until the first day of the next month for eligibility.

Workload:

While caseload counts in most areas have been reduced over the past three years, there continue to be pockets of concern and more work to be done. We have already established a joint workload committee with OCEU and under our latest proposal, this joint committee would be strengthened to collaboratively address the pockets where caseload remains a concern and identify root causes, starting with roles that have previously been grieved.  

Our proposal also includes a commitment to implement viable consensus recommendations within agreed timelines, and a dedicated full-time resource to support the committee’s work

Expenses:

Our current proposal calls for the upfront payment of travel expenses by the WSIB for air, passenger train and accommodations. This removes the need for team members who do not have a corporate credit card from having to personally front travel expenses and then submit for reimbursement.

Career progression, recruitment, and selection:

Some well-intentioned rules from years ago are now barriers to our team members advancing their careers at the WSIB. 

The following important improvements are included in our latest offer:

  • Eligibility period – simplifying the process to allow team members to apply for another role after eight months in their current role.
  • Future proactive recruitment – extend the period a future proactive recruitment can be live from six to 12 months. In addition, eligible team members who applied for a role will be automatically eligible for consideration for 36 months without having to reapply.  
  • Converting from temporary to permanent – making it easier and extending timelines for people filling temporary vacancies to be converted to permanent without having to re-compete for the role they have been performing.  
  • Automatic qualifications (Job Families) – expand the set of qualifications and roles they apply to.
  • Support to apply to a new role – expand our library of previous job work samples and testing material available for team members to access to help them better understand the requirements of a new role and help them be successful in the recruitment process.

Making things better, easier and faster:

We want our team members to have a better, easier and faster experience with us. Our latest offer also includes the following improvements:

  • Shift premiums automatically applied – team members will no longer have to fill out a weekly form to receive a shift premium they are entitled to.
  • Vacation bidding – move to a provincial model that will allow more people to access their top-choice vacation dates while maintaining our business activities.
  • On-call premium – increased by 25% on weekdays and 20% on weekends.
  • Relocation allowance – increased from $18,000 to $22,500, including additional eligible expense categories. 
Claims vs. facts
ClaimFact
The WSIB has locked out its employees. On Wednesday May 21 OCEU instructed their members to initiate “a full withdrawal of service” the following day, which is a strike. The WSIB initiated its business continuity protocol in response to a strike.  
The WSIB is refusing to table a “best and final offer” for a vote. The best agreements are negotiated at the table in partnership with union leaders. The offer from the WSIB would see the average unionized employee’s salary jump from over $98,000 to now over $104,500 while reducing their workload, and improving their benefits coverage.  
The workload of each case manager is too high. 
 

The average case load for a case manager handling physical injury claims is down 60% from its peak in 2021.  

The current offer includes enhancements to a joint workload committee with the union to make further improvements.

WSIB staff are chronically unhappy with their workplace. 

 

There is an international study that says the WSIB employees face a “toxic” work environment. 

In our last employee experience survey, 90% said they plan to be working at the WSIB one year from now, 91% said their manager treats them with respect, and 86% said their manager supports their health and well-being.  
Mental health is not supported. 

In 2023 the benefits package for all WSIB employees and their families was expanded to include unlimited mental health benefits. This was done outside of the collective agreement process and required no concessions.  

 

In 2024 all employees also became eligible to access free coaching services, including career coaching and specialized coaches for parenting, nutrition, and sleep.