Dozens protest outside WSIB's Windsor office, call for investigation

More than 20 people picketed the Windsor offices of the Workplace Safety Insurance Board Monday, protesting on behalf of injured workers.

The protest comes as provincial labour minister Kevin Flynn appointed Thomas Teahen as the board's new president last week. New rules affecting the board's practices are coming into effect. Those rules include a patient ombudsman. 

• Ontario psychologist 'alarmed' by what's happening to WSIB claimants
• Ontario psychologists claim WSIB unfairly denying patient claims

Essex NDP MPP Taras Natyshak appeared at the rally and called for an investigation into the WSIB.

"You can start right here and give people the support that they need to become whole again and become happy members of their societies," he said.  

Protester Stacey Modolo said her daughter was treated unfairly by the board after being injured while working at a restaurant.

She said her daughter broke both of her legs while on the job. Even though a doctor confirmed the injuries happened at her workplace, Modolo said the WSIB refuses to pay for one of her daughter's casts and is threatening to cut off her benefits.

"They have to do what they say they're here to do; protect the worker, support the worker. She did nothing wrong," Modolo said. "You are doing nothing to help her, other than making her feel bad. You're upsetting her, you're making her feel like she did something wrong. She was at work."

"She feels like she has to fight tooth and nail to get what's coming to her, what should be coming to her," Modolo said.

A spokesperson for the WSIB said in a statement that the board registers more than 200,000 claims each year and that 92 per cent of all workers that have been injured and lost time from work are safely working at full wages within one year.

"There are significant safeguards in the system and stringent checks and balances. For any injured worker who wishes to have a WSIB decision reconsidered, a two level appeals process exists," Christine Arnott, the WSIB's senior public affairs consultant said in an email to CBC News.