On July 6, 2025, the WSIB announced the end of the 6-week long labour disruption, reaching what they report as a “fair and reasonable agreement with the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU)”. WSIB employees are expected to return to work within 24 hours of the agreement ratification. Service disruptions continue to be expected as the WSIB transitions to regular service levels.
The strike may be over but there continue to be several important transitional measures to be aware of:
- Extension to Objection Time-limits: Workplace parties will have an extra 60 days to file an objection to decisions made between May 1 and July 18, 2025 (this includes decisions with a usual 30-day time-limit to object).
- Appeals Services are up and running but delays are expected in decision making and processing appeals. The Appeals Services Division will contact parties to reschedule any cancelled hearings.
- Claim File Access: The WSIB has resumed releasing access files but delays are expected.
- Return to Work Services and other worksite meetings are gradually resuming.
- The WSIB is continuing various healthcare preapproval protocols for the time being.
- The WSIB will stop its interim protocol of allowing entitlement to all physical injury claims and will resume normal adjudicative protocol.
- It is unlikely and certainly not guaranteed that WSIB staff will respond to voicemail messages or emails that were received throughout the duration of the strike. Workplace parties are encouraged to reach out to the WSIB again to make contact.
Some Tips for Employers to continue to advance their claim matters:
- Circle back with the WSIB on disputed claims that were filed and auto-allowed during the strike to ensure the claims decisions are reconsidered;
- Follow-up with the WSIB on any requests submitted during the strike to ensure they are actioned (eg. objections reviewed, referred to cost relief team, access referrals etc.)
Background:
Almost 4,000 WSIB workers began strike action on May 22, 2025. This represents the first strike in the WSIB’s 111 year history. Key issues communicated by OCEU included pay, high caseload levels and the health and safety (including mental stress) of its workers. It is not yet known if back-to-office protocol was a point of discussion, considering the WSIB’s substantial investment in a new head office in London, Ontario, despite the mandate for its workforce to work in-office only one day per month.
