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Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG)

ONIWG is a provincial voice for workers who have been injured or made ill on the job. We have first-hand experience of the WCB/WSIB system, know it needs improvement and take united action to make this happen. A democratically governed organization, ONIWG has been representing workers since 1991.

Our 18 member groups have strong community roots, working closely with other local groups and agencies to advance the interests of injured workers. These include labour councils and labour unions, and legal clinics who provide advice and support. We also work with the local Office of the Worker Advisor, our Members of Provincial Parliament, and in municipal governments.

Despite no longer receiving provincial funding, ONIWG continues to lobby and raise public awareness (see current Workers’ Comp Is a Right campaign) about what needs to be fixed in Ontario’s broken workers’ compensation system. We speak up for injured worker rights with submissions and street rallies, petitions, research , media action, workshops & conferences.

ONIWG groups in your community [Directory]

  • offer peer support – meet other workers who face the same challenges that you do
  • provide information on dealing with the compensation system
  • give you an opportunity to join the fight for justice

What we are fighting towards!

  • Reform of the Workers’ Compensation Act and Policy and a return to the founding principles.
  • Dignity, Respect and Justice must be the foundation for a renewed Workers’ Compensation System
  • An Act with the stated purpose to truly assist and compensate workers injured, made sick and disabled at work

Taking action – research & advocacy

A leader in the struggle against Bill 99, ONIWG continues to campaign for a just compensation system through law reform, for fairness in Board policy, dignity and respect in Board practice. With research, submissions and presentations, it documents those concerns and makes recommendations for the Legislative Assembly, Ministers and the WCB/WSIB. On the street, it co-organizes public rallies such as Injured Workers’ Day, Day of Mourning, RSI Awareness Day, the Annual Christmas demo outside the Ministry of Labour and the May pickets. Through press conferences and social media it shares the concerns and experiences of injured workers.

Current & recent actions

Labour Day parade with banner, Toronto 2018
Labour Day, Toronto 2018

Workers’ Comp is a Right campaign
September 2017 ONIWG launched its current campaign calling for an end to some of the main methods by which the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is cutting benefits and sending people into poverty. The 3 demands: No cuts based on phantom jobs – Listen to injured workers’ treating healthcare professionals – Stop cutting benefits based on ‘pre-existing conditions’. See more details and action toolkit.

ONIWG Legal Defence Fund
ONIWG is asking injured workers to come forward and support a legal challenge against the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) in order to:

  • bring in full cost of living protection for all injured workers’ benefits
  • provide pensions for workers with permanent disabilities and eliminate the deeming system – injured workers need real jobs and job security or full compensation

Justice for Injured Workers Ride / Cyclothon Justice pour les accidentés du travail
In collaboration with the McIntyre Powder Project, long-time injured worker activist Peter Page led ONIWG’s fourth annual bike ride in May 2018 through northern Ontario, meeting fellow injured workers and raising public awareness of occupational disease and concerns with Ontario’s workers’ compensation system.

Recording the evidence

ONIWG Poverty Survey 2012

ONIWG researches how the workers’ compensation affects injured workers’ experience and conditions. In 2012 it conducted its second Injured Workers Poverty Survey, led by York University’s Bonnie Heath, to document real-life financial, social and health impacts of work injury and dealing with the Compensation Board.

As a partner organization in the Research Action Alliance on the Consequences of Work Injury (2006-2011) and the Bancroft Institute, ONIWG contributes valuable worker-focused research and evidence for the community and policy-makers.

Selected publications:

See Resources for more ONIWG publications. For additional material by and about ONIWG, search the IWC Library catalogue.

JFIW Newspaper

ONIWG’s newspaper “Justice for Injured Workers” has been reporting to injured workers on the current state of Ontario’s workers’ compensation system since 2012.

Justice for Injured Workers October 2019 cover page

The Justice for Injured Workers’ Newspaper Issue No 15 (Sep. 2019), the must-read newspaper of the Ontario Network for Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG), is now available  (download in pdf).

In this issue, find a campaign recap on Workers’ Comp Is a Right; meet your new ONIWG executive; taking action to reverse the legal aid cuts; a call for a People’s Review of workers’ compensation; immigrant women fighting for workers’ rights; coverage of the ONIWG Annual General Meeting & ONIWG/OFL Workers’ Compensation Conference 2019; a year of injured workers in action (and photos); ONIWG demands for an end to deeming (Phantom Jobs & Empty Pockets report, and the ONIWG submission to the UN CRPD; universal coverage campaign; and remembering Rob Vachon.

Requests for issues can be made by contacting Peter Page, Coordinator (peter_page@hotmail.com) phone(905) 746-3559

For the next issue, No. 16, send current news, articles and photos to: j4iwnews@gmail.com

Your support towards the costs of producing the newspaper is appreciated. Please send cheques/donations for the JFIW Newspaper to:
ONIWG Treasurer
Janet Paterson
127 Ravenwood Avenue
Thunder Bay ON P7B4H7

Updated May 21, 2020