The Politics of compensation
Find here information on the just system that injured workers seek, the negative impact of Bill 99 (Workplace Safety And Insurance Act, 1997), issues and policies that need to be addressed, and legislative change and debate at Queen's Park.
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. As recommended by the Meredith Commission report, worker and employer were to benefit from a no-fault compensation system in which workers, in exchange for guaranteed compensation, gave up the right to sue ("the historic compromise"). 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 made 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.
The organizations in the injuredworkersonline.org collective are active in this work. Together we seek to identify major injustices, document them, educate the public and politicians about them and propose alternatives. In these pages we share information and analysis of issues and initiatives to reform the system.