WSIB - WORKERS SHAFTED INTENTIONALLY BY BOARD?

The front page article in today's Waterloo Region record is titled, "Mixed messages on WSIB review." Recently a Kitchener widow of a deceased rubber worker was advised by a WSIB employee that not all cases of more than 300 already denied will be reviewed. This of course is in contradiction to what the WSIB said just last week that WSIAT (Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal) cases that had been turned down would be included in the overall review by the WSIB. The widow, Gayle Wannan, is skeptical that the WSIB is genuinely interested in applying the latest evidence when taking another look at rubber workers' claims. Personally I'm skeptical that "new" evidence is needed or whether it even exists. There has been overwhelming evidence of cancer clusters in the rubber industry for decades and longer. This has always been all about protecting employers from lawsuits and reducing the liability of governments to pay disability pensions and death benefits caused by occupational diseases.

The WSIAT rarely grants reconsiderations for the simple reason they don't have to. Again I believe their mandate is more financial than either humanitarian or honestly insurance based. Citizens are allowed to ask Ontario's Superior Court of Justice for a judicial review of a WSIAT decision. That is incredibly slow and incredibly expensive. After all judges and lawyers need to maintain their lifestyle while pretending to have empathy for factory workers in the local rubber plants. Yes Dorothy, class differences are alive and well in Canada.

I expect that perhaps half of the affected workers and their families will eventually receive some compensation for the premature deaths and illnesses of their loved ones. This will have exactly nothing to do with the so called "evidence" and everything to do with past Liberal and Conservative governments saving face. The provincial government controls the WSIB and WSIAT and party affiliations between Ontario's two governing parties make little difference in the ongoing exploitation of citizens by those with power and money.

WSIB & MIN. OF LABOUR HYPOCRISY & CORRUPTION

Today's Waterloo Region Record carries the following article titled, "Appealed rubber claims will be reviewed." Apparently a number of twice rejected claims by rubber workers for workman's compensation will now be included in the sweeping review being undertaken by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Also our inimitable Ministry of Labour are also conducting a major review of occupational cancer led by Dr. Paul Demers and expected to be released by the end of the year.

All of this folks is simply a smokescreen. The facts, the data and the scientific knowledge have all been with us for many decades. Various solvents cause various cancers. Rubber chemicals and their additives are carcinogenic. In Europe in the late 1800s doctors were diagnosing cancer at elevated rates in chemical and dye workers in the textile industry (Travis-Agaard Report). These are the same and or similar chemicals still used today in various rubber and chemical industries.

The smokescreen is that before the WSIB can reverse their decisions they need to pretend that their new decisions are based on new medical information. Bullshit three times over! What this has always been about is money. Since 2014 appeals of WSIB decisions have grown significantly while compensation payouts have been slashed in half. This will allow employers' contributions to be reduced ensuring more donations to the favoured political parties (Liberal & Conservative).

Meanwhile the WSIB Chair (Liz Witmer) who has overseen this disgrace is crying crocodile tears publicly regarding the financial crisis that she and the WSIB have caused for families suffering from rubber industry exposures. This is not to mention the health crisis that their colleagues over at the Ministry of Labour have allowed to continue and fester for many decades, all in the name of corporate profits. Flock off and stop sacrificing citizens to enhance both government and industry bank accounts.