IWC news

Who Killed Sir William?

In the latest episode of IWC’s podcast (formerly InjuredWorkerCast)  Tebasum Durrani holds a discussion with  Steve Mantis, co-author with Marion Endicott of  Who Killed Sir William?  – “a reflective and analytical look at what happened to the original vision behind Ontario’s workers’ compensation system as envisioned by its founder Sir William Meredith over 100 years ago and why that matters more than ever today….

The book unpacks a bold research project called the Research Action Alliance on the Consequences of Work Injury which brought injured worker community activists and university researchers together to document the long-term impacts of work injuries economically, socially and mentally – and trained injured workers to be public speakers for self-advocacy…

So in some sense this episode isn’t just about a book.  It’s also a blueprint for activism because in a time when benefits are being clawed back for injured workers,  when older workers are being cut off benefits just because they hit age 65 and when the system seems stacked against the very people it was built to protect,  this story reminds us that research can be radical and community-led activism is essential.”

Tune in to listen here: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube

Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic is hosting their monthly injured & ill worker meeting on Wednesday, July 30th, 1pm – 3pm.

This will be a special meeting for those wanting to speak up against WSIB’s discriminatory practice of cutting off benefits for injured workers when they turn 65. This policy affects countless injured workers across the province as they are driven further into poverty all because of their age. Learn more about this campaign at End the Age Cutoff.

You can attend online or in person at the IWC office (815 Danforth Ave. Suite 411, Toronto). Click here to register if you want to attend online or by phone, after which an email will be sent to you with the details. If you are attending in person, you can reply to this email or call the office (416) 461-2411 to let them know that you’re attending!

Learn more about workers’ compensation Age 65 issues – and let’s talk about challenging WSIB’s unfair retirement benefits system (relevant to workers of all ages). As usual the meeting will start with Know Your Rights educational presentation, followed by group discussion.

Join us Wednesday June 25 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in person at the Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic office (815 Danforth, 4th Floor, Toronto), or by Zoom/telephone. Register  here ( www.tinyurl.com/IWJune25th ) to get the link.

The first hour will be an educational presentation on workers’ compensation age 65 issues and the challenges of the WSIB ‘s retirement benefits system:

• What does the Act say about older injured workers?
• How does the Act impact older injured workers?
• In what ways does the Act need to be changed for older injured workers?
• What laws exist in other provinces for older injured workers?

Then at 2 pm – Drop-In Organizing Meeting – What’s next?

For additional background on age 65 issues, see also:

• IWC Fact sheet: Age discrimination and the WSIB  (June. 19, 2025) – pdf | Word
• Interview with IWC lawyer John McKinnon in episode #10 of the podcast Injured Workers Legal Side with Richard & Paul)

Executive Director John McKinnon was recently guest speaker on episode #10 of Injured Workers Legal Side with Richard & Paul. This episode of the podcast series hosted by Richard Fink and Paul Taylor addressed issues faced by older injured workers.

A lawyer with a long history of advocating against age discrimination in the workers’ compensation system, John discusses here the reasons behind a new joint legal challenge to Ontario’s current legislation which limits workers’ compensation to injured workers at age 65, and the development of law and policy behind the WSIB’s inadequate retirement benefit which forces many into poverty.

• Listen or view Episode 10 here on Youtube.

“Bylaws meant to curb hate and violence actually target dissent“, by IWC’s Tebasum Durrani and Chris Grawey, was published in the May 31st edition of Hamilton Spectator.

The article discusses how the City of Toronto’s bylaw, which creates “buffer zones” around certain institutions, restricting the right to protest, gather, picket – a right utilized by injured workers in bringing the attention of the public and officials to the workers’ compensation issues many face. “Ultimately, this is not about safety — it is about silencing the voices of anti-establishment and working-class people. In short, the bylaw will act as a deterrent to protest.”

Read the full article here.

Meet next Wednesday at IWC @ noon to get ready for this year’s June 1^st Injured Workers’ Day. We will begin with a short history of June 1^st – Injured Workers’ Day, and then give a rundown of upcoming events. After that, we will order some pizza and dust off our craft supplies to have a poster & placard-making party for the events on June 1st. We hope you can join us at the IWC office (815 Danforth Ave, Suite 411 on 4th floor)

The event will be hybrid (on Zoom and in person) – if you want to join virtually for the presentation about June 1^st history and a rundown of upcoming events, make sure to join right at noon.

 Please RSVP by clicking here – whether you are coming in person or online – so we know how much food to order.

If you can’t join us, keep an eye on injuredworkersonline.org/June1st2025 for the most up to date information on Injured Workers’ Day events.