I’m really concerned for our heroes who might get sick keeping us safe during this COVID 19 pandemic. These are workers who might then be directed to make a claim to the WSIB for compensation due to their illness.
As a long term advocate for injured and disabled workers in Ontario, I have seen how hard it is to get the WSIB to approve a claim for disease. With our present system, the worker must prove their illness is a direct result of a workplace exposure. Now, who can prove they got the virus at work rather than while on the bus or while shopping for groceries.
For 36 years, our group, the Thunder Bay & District Injured Workers Support Group, has heard from many workers who became seriously ill from workplace exposures who have suffered insult on top of their injury from the WSIB resulting in a life of poverty.
These workers deserve better treatment if they fall seriously ill.
In support,
Steve Mantis
Thunder Bay & District Injured Workers Support Group
