As a specialist back to work for the Safety and Insurance Board of the workplace (WSIB) of Ontario, Justin Dailey helps people return to their work after injuries.
These days, Hamilton’s man would like to work again.
Together with some 3,600 colleagues, Dailey has been on strike since May 22. Members of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU), also called the Local Public Employees Canadian Union (CUPE) 1750 – He left workCalling a “toxic” workplace and saying that they could not reach an agreement with their employer. Shortly after, the workers said WSIB blocked them and the strike continued.
“We care about the quality of the work we provide to our injured workers and we cannot return to that, for what we are suffering, the injured workers are suffering. It is a difficult time,” Dailey told CBC Hamilton after a picket morning during the heat wave last week outside the offices of the center of WSIB.
Dailey and his colleagues are some of Hamilton’s workers, with different employers, who have passed at the end of spring and early summer in picket lines. They include workers with Hamilton waterDelivery Company DHL Express Canada and Canadian hearing services (CHS). All have different reasons and circumstances to be on strike.
But two workers told CBC Hamilton that they are together.
“We are all fighting this type of systemic attack against unions, but specifically workers. It is almost like [employers] I want us to be satisfied with the remains they are giving us, with which I do not agree, “Dailey said, adding that his union has met with other striking unions and the Hamilton Labor Council and the District.
“Hamilton is a very strong union city.”
WSIB says he is addressing workers’ concerns
On Friday, Oceu/CUPE 1750 issued a press release that asked the employer “to stop stalling and bring fair treatment” of Canada’s day. The union said that WSIB has not shared a contract proposal since June 15, and that they want their “best and last offer.”
Aaron Lazarus, vice president of communications in WSIB, told CBC Hamilton that the negotiations are ongoing and that the employer does not plan to issue a formal final offer for Tuesday. On the perspective of an agreement, he said that WSIB is “as hopeful as ever.”
WSIB is offering a salary increase above inflation and proposed to improve a workload committee to address members’ concerns, said Lazarus, adding that the cases have decreased since a maximum of 2021.
Dailey said salaries and workload are important problems for him and his colleagues, who are struggling with exhaustion. For his position, said Dailey, having about 30 cases is comfortable, but was about 40.
“We are a system here. If there is a tension in an area or department, it is a tension for all of us,” said Dailey. “We all just want to work again to help the public.”
“We also want them back,” said Lazarus, added that WSIB is operating at 40 percent of their normal capacity, but can still help injured workers and register new statements and businesses.
In another part of Hamilton, surprising Chs workers told CBC Hamilton who are also eager to return to work. Around 200 members of CUPE Local 2073 have been on strike since April 28.
“We are all struggling that the deaf community has access to its services,” said Laura Burrows, who worked at Chs for more than 20 years, on June 23 outside the Hamilton office of her employer in King Street West and Dundurn Street.
CHS is the largest supplier of ASL in ASL interpretation and mental health care for deaf people and with hearing problems. It also offers emergency interpretation to hospitals, police, courts and long -term care facilities.
“I represent the community that is waiting for the service now and also represented my colleagues here in Chs,” Burrows, who says it is “culturally deaf,” he said in sign language through an interpreter. “There are really no other options for the deaf community at this time.”
Laura Burrows de Hamilton has worked for Canadian audition services for 20 years. Now, on strike of his work, Burrows says that he is representing his colleagues and the deaf community as a picket captain.
Days after Burrows spoke with CBC Hamilton, CUPE 2073 met with the employer to negotiate. Before that, the union said they had not met since May 21.
“Canadian hearing services arrived at the table with an offer, but without consideration of our proposals, without the willingness to listen to our challenges and not understand the urgent needs of our clients,” said spokesman for Cupe Jesse Mintz in a statement sent by email.
Chs then took out his offer, said Mintz.
CBC Hamilton asked Chs comments, but did not receive an answer for publication time.
In May, a CHS spokesman said in an email “there are no negative impacts on deaf people and with hearing problems in Hamilton, as we continue to provide services.” CHS did not provide more details about how I was providing those services.
Burrows said his workplace used to be “pleasant and healthy,” but the services moved early in the Covid-19 pandemic, to the detriment.
“I don’t think we are currently satisfying the needs of the community to relieve those barriers they face every day,” he said, added that the members want to return to the office.
Both Dailey and Burrows said that being on strike has brought them closer to work colleagues.
“There is a lot of cohesion and solidarity,” Burrows said. “I would say that we have become a family here in the picket line. I have had a lot of support from my colleagues.
“We are all in the same boat facing the same struggles together and we are working for a common goal [to] Go back to the employer to the table. “
