From May 25 to June 1st 2016, ONIWG’s second annual Justice for Injured Workers Ride / Cycleton “Justice pour les accidenté(e)s du travail” travelled through communities in Southwestern Ontario from Windsor to Toronto.
Injured workers Richard Hudon and Peter Page, ride ambassadors of the 2015 Ride (Ottawa to Toronto), were joined this year by longtime injured worker advocate Allen Jones, and van driver team. Local injured worker groups, labour councils, unions, legal and OH&S clinics, community organizations and individual advocates generously hosted and supported the riders. [see Photo gallery below]
Why they rode
- to draw public attention to the state of workers’ compensation in Ontario today
- to meet with fellow injured workers, share concerns and actions
In its recent 2015 Economic Statement, the WSIB indicated that it intends to reduce employer premiums by up to 45% in the coming years, resulting in over $2 billion dollars a year being paid to employers – on the backs of injured workers.
The Riders asked injured workers “what would you do with the $2 billion the WSIB intends to give employers in rate cuts? – and brought those messages to Queen’s Park. Messages for the Minister were also collected online.
Pour la deuxième année consécutive, les accidentés du travail ont participé à une randonnée à vélo à travers le sud-ouest de l’Ontario afin d’attirer l’attention du public sur les problèmes du régime d’indemnisation des accidents du travail et de rencontrer des collègues accidentés.
Ils ont transmis le message suivant à Queen’s Park : Voici comment les accidenté(e)s du travail utiliseraient les deux milliards de dollars que la CSPAAT entend accorder aux employeurs pour réduire leurs cotisations.