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The state of benefit adequacy

October 10, 2016

The U.S. Dept of Labor’s recent report asks the key question: “Does the Workers’ Compensation System Fulfill its Obligations to Injured Workers?” Although there are notable differences between the American and Canadian systems, the report sounds the alarm on concerns relevant also…

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Clothing Allowance decisions reconsidered

October 10, 2016

THE WSIB is sending out letters in early October to injured workers who wore a WSIB-approved back support or back corset and did not receive the full Clothing Allowance amount payable during the period from November 1, 1996 to January 3, 2006.…

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“A farcical decision”: lawyer

October 10, 2016

“Injured farm worker struggles to survive after support cut off” / Sara Mojtehedzadeh (Toronto Star, Oct 7, 2016) Former migrant farmer Anthony Brown, seriously injured in a workplace accident while working on a Niagara-area fruit-picking operation, is in a no-win situation. Permanently…

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Critics and injured workers question RTW policies

September 29, 2016

This article sheds light on the WSIB’s intense pressure to get workers back to work, often sooner than they are ready. This is described as a “win-win” scenario, when the WSIB saves money by not compensating the worker because he or she…

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Responding to Changing Workplaces Review interim report

September 28, 2016

The Workers’ Action Centre (WAC), with Parkdale Community Legal Services, has released “Building Decent Jobs From the Ground Up” – a comprehensive response to the Changing Workplaces Review Special Advisors’ interim report. In addition to a detailed analysis of the options…

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Lower premiums for employers – who pays?

September 25, 2016

“WSIB premium cuts hurts injured workers says OPSEU, Injured Workers Group” / Tom Sasvari (Manitoulin Expositor, Sep. 23, 2016) At its recent Annual general meeting, the WSIB announced cuts to the premiums employers pay in 2017, averaging 5% but decreasing by up…

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Where’s the action on asbestos?

September 7, 2016

This past Labour Day, Canadian Labour of Congress president Hassan Yussuff celebrated union gains, highlighted current workplace challenges, including precarious work – and repeated the call for a ban on asbestos. Almost 152,000 Canadian workers are exposed in their jobs to asbestos…

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Keeping up with social (justice) media

September 7, 2016

For those who haven’t already discovered him, LabourStart’s Derek Blackadder writes a regular WebWorks column in the excellent Our Times magazine that is always worth checking out. The Spring 2016 column has tips for those of us who are guilty of the…

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Exposing employee abuse in the restaurant sector

August 30, 2016

“Pilot project aims to protect vulnerable restaurant workers” / Sara Mojtehedzadeh (Toronto Star, Aug. 30, 2016) Following last month’s release of the Changing Workplaces Review Interim Report on issues facing workers in precarious jobs, the Ministry of Labour is launching a new…

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Calling for transparency

August 30, 2016

“Secretive drug policies putting injured workers at risk, critics say” / Sara Mojtehedzadeh (Toronto Star, Aug. 29, 2016) Will the medication I’m prescribed by my doctor for my work injury (or illness) be covered by the WSIB? It seems a simple enough…

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