Striking CUPE workers demand government action outside Peter Bethlenfalvy’s Pickering office
PICKERING, ON — Tensions intensified Monday as striking Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) workers took their message directly to the doorstep of Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, staging a picket outside his Pickering constituency office.
The picket line—organized by OCEU/CUPE Local 1750—is part of a full-scale strike that now involves more than 4,000 WSIB employees across Ontario. Workers initially began rolling strikes late last week, but frustrations have boiled over as contract negotiations have hit a standstill.
“We’re proud to serve injured workers across Ontario, including here in Durham,” said union president Harry Goslin. “But the Ford government needs to step in. We need WSIB management to return to the table with real solutions.”
Union representatives say key issues include unsustainable workloads, poor workplace culture, and fair compensation—claims the employer has yet to meaningfully address. The union insists that management has failed to negotiate in good faith and accuses WSIB leadership of “bullying tactics” and trying to “sow division within the union.”
Bethlenfalvy, the MPP for Pickering–Uxbridge, was not available to meet with workers Monday, but local picket captain Alyx Cunningham says the protest will continue.
“We’re his constituents too,” said Cunningham. “If he won’t meet us today, there’s always tomorrow.”
The strike has disrupted normal WSIB operations, although the organization says it is continuing to deliver services through its website, wsib.ca, with a warning that delays may occur—especially in light of a potential Canada Post disruption.
The WSIB claims the union has yet to respond to its most recent offer. But the union argues that a fair deal is impossible without “a willing partner.”
“We care deeply about the people behind every case file,” added Goslin. “But we are workers too—and we deserve respect. Right now, our employer is more focused on threats than solutions.”
With no new talks scheduled, pressure is mounting not only on WSIB leadership but also on Queen’s Park—where striking workers hope elected officials will finally take notice.