TORONTO, ON – The union representing over 3,000 striking Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) employees is sounding the alarm after internal documents reveal that the agency has begun outsourcing key responsibilities to private contractors — including tasks typically performed by front-line staff now on strike.

The Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750) condemned the move as a threat to both job security and the well-being of injured workers across the province.

“This is a blatant attempt to undermine the strike and outsource union jobs behind closed doors,” said OCEU President Harry Goslin. “WSIB would rather contract out work than come to the table with a fair deal. That’s not just disrespectful to our members — it’s dangerous for injured workers who rely on experienced, specialized support.”

An internal WSIB memo obtained by the union outlines a trial initiative that permits contracted health-care providers to directly contact employers and discuss an injured worker’s functional abilities — work that is normally the responsibility of trained WSIB Return-to-Work Specialists.

According to the memo, these contractors will:

Call employers following assessments to share workers’ functional capabilities;

Recommend return-to-work arrangements, including modified or alternate duties;

Confirm whether current job duties match the injured worker’s medical limitations.

“These decisions affect people’s recovery, their employment, and their future,” added Goslin. “Offloading this to private contractors with no accountability is irresponsible."

The union is calling for an immediate halt to the trial program and a return to meaningful negotiations at the bargaining table.

In Greater Sudbury, dozens of local WSIB staff are directly impacted by the ongoing labour dispute, which has entered its third month. Local union members include case managers, return-to-work specialists, and administrative staff who help deliver critical services to injured workers and their employers.

Striking workers are demanding fair wages and protections against excessive workloads, which they say are essential to maintaining service quality and ensuring proper care for injured workers throughout Ontario.

The WSIB has not publicly responded to the union’s concerns about outsourcing at the time of publication.