"In these days of social and industrial unrest it is, in
my judgement, of the gravest importance to the community that every proved injustice to any
section or class resulting from bad or unfair laws should be promptly removed by enactment
of remedial legislation and I do not doubt that the country whose Legislature is
quick to discern and prompt to remove injustice will enjoy, and that deservedly, the
blessing of industrial peace and freedom from social unrest."
Judge Meredith, in 1914, on why Ontario has workers’ compensation laws.
[Meredith report]
|
Injury and illness due to work is not a new issue. Since the
late 1800's workers have organized to put pressure on their employers, their communities,
compensation boards, and government to improve working conditions. Although many conditions have
improved, more needs to be done.
Workers’ compensation laws were passed to
protect the injured. In the past, many workers were
paid a small pension but the payment was at least guaranteed. Today,
workers are forced to remain at work on modified duties and
benefits are only paid if the Board deems you to be able to earn
less than at your job before the accident. And no rehabilitation and no
support when you lose your job!
Workers’ compensation has
become one of the most political subjects in Ontario. All three
political parties have recently had a term in government and each
one took the opportunity to make significant changes to workers'
compensation. But they have not always listened to injured workers and many of the
changes have not meant justice for injured workers.
Changes that did help injured workers - like automatic cost
of living increases, an independent appeals tribunal, pension
supplements, an occupational disease standards panel,
representation on the W.C.B. Board of Directors - resulted from
the work of the injured worker community and its allies to
identify major injustices, to document them, to educate the public
and politicians about them and to propose alternatives. We would
like to encourage, support and continue this work.
The organizations in the injuredworkers.online collective are
active in this work. Here, we try to supply more in-depth
information on the major issues affecting injured workers that are
currently in the spotlight. We would like to share information,
research, analysis, submissions and other material. |
