In the News June 2

Ontario Injured Workers Day 2022

Migrant Workers Hold Militant Action at Workers’ Compensation Office

Migrant workers and their allies organized an action to mark Ontario Injured Workers’ Day at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) office in downtown Toronto. The event was organized by Justice for Migrant Workers and Injured Workers’ Action for Justice.

Those gathered first attempted to meet with WSIB officials but were denied entrance to the building. Security was immediately called. The group held a rally at the front of the building and then moved to Simcoe Park nearby to hear from various migrant workers about their experiences.

Gabriel Allahdua, a migrant worker activist, pointed out that it is the Canadian government that creates the policies that enable the exploitation and abuse of migrant workers who have to work in conditions of virtual slavery. He noted that while Canada falsely promotes itself as a human rights champion abroad, at home it abuses migrant workers and others. He pointed out that while millions of dollars are being spent to assist Ukrainian refugees with jobs and resettlement, migrant workers that have come here for decades doing important work are denied status and basic rights.

All, a migrant agricultural worker from Jamaica, said that on her farm workers who are injured are simply deported.

The workers made three demands. Firstly, that the so-called surplus that the WSIB has collected by denying the claims of injured workers be used not to reward employers but to meet injured workers’ claims and entitlements. Secondly, that injured migrant workers have access to health care and medical treatments as a matter of their human rights and that the brutal practice of deporting migrant workers back to their countries of origin when they are injured be stopped immediately. Thirdly, they demanded that the WSIB end the practice of deeming and provide benefits where injured workers are not able to get a job or a job is not available.

Speakers called on everyone to vote for the candidates who will defend the rights of migrant workers and all workers in the June 2 provincial election.

More actions are planned in the near future by the two sponsoring organizations to advance the fight for migrant rights and justice.

Ontario Political Forum, posted June 2, 2022.