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 to the policy and lawmakers, street rallies, petitions, research , public education, 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, campaigns, information
A leader in the struggle against Bill 99, ONIWG continues to campaign for a just compensation system. Among recent actions:
- Rights Don’t Retire – addressing age discrimination in the WSIB and Bill 105 (2026)
- Bill 86, Meredith Act (Fair Compensation for Injured Workers), 2025 – a collaborative development with the NDP to rewrite the existing law with reforms that put the emphasis on the needs of injured workers first
- Workers’ Comp is a Right campaign ONIWG launched its current campaign in 2017 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.
- Justice for Injured Workers Ride / Cyclothon Justice pour les accidentés du travail (2015-2018). Started by long-time injured worker activists Richard Hudon and Peter Page, annual bike rides across the province created opportunities for meeting fellow injured workers and advocates, and raising public awareness of key workers’ compensation concerns.
Research & analysis
ONIWG researches how the workers’ compensation affects injured workers’ experience and conditions. It does this through its Research Action Committee’s analyses of data and qualitative research and surveys (such as ONIWG’s Poverty Survey, 2012) documenting real-life financial, social and health impacts of work injury and dealing with the WSIB, .
As a partner organization in the Research Action Alliance on the Consequences of Work Injury (2006-2011) and the ongoing Bancroft Institute, ONIWG contributes valuable worker-focused research and evidence for the community and policy-makers.
Recent publications:
See a list of recent submissions, presentations, reports and press releases by ONIWG and by ONIWG-Research Action Committee.
For additional material by and about ONIWG, search the IWC Library catalogue.