Decisions on GE retirees expected in a few months

Ontario Labour Minister Kevin Flynn says he’ll need three or four months to “finalize some decisions” that he expects will help former General Electric workers in Peterborough who believe they developed cancer after exposure to workplace toxins.

A recent report states that between 1945 and 2000, workers at the GE plant in Peterborough were exposed to more than 3,000 toxic chemicals – at least 40 of them carcinogens.

Although hundreds of these workers later developed cancer, the majority have not received compensation from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).

To be offered compensation, workers have had to prove their illnesses were caused by exposure to chemicals in the workplace.

For years, local advocates for the former workers have lobbied for a better system – with better access to compensation.

This summer they’ve called on Flynn and Peterborough MP Jeff Leal for a system whereby anyone who worked at GE between 1945 and 2000 get automatic compensation – no need to prove their cancer was workplace-related.

On Wednesday, Flynn and Leal met in Toronto with former workers, health advocates and representatives from GE’s union, Unifor.

Flynn said he told them he wants to take the next three to four months to make some final decisions how best to help sick former workers and their families.

“We still have a few decisions to make, but not that many,” he said. “Such as, do we take the legislative route or not?”

If they do, he says, it can take awhile. Another option is what he calls the “regulatory route”, meaning they make changes to WSIB regulations to make it easier for these workers to access help.

“This gives you more flexibility,” he said.

Leal said in an interview Wednesday that Flynn is committed

to bringing “justice and closure” to the former GE workers.

Leal also said they’re aware that former workers are dying of cancer – and they have to work efficiently, to help people.

“We talked about how people are dying,” Leal said. “We’re really running against the clock, on this one.”

But Leal said he’s still optimistic – particularly since Flynn is so “sincere and committed” to the project.

“And I think that’s important,” he said.

Sue James, a former GE worker who co-ordinated the effort to write the report on toxic chemicals at GE, said she left the meeting on Wednesday feeling “cautiously optimistic”.

“He (Flynn) asked us to have faith he will do the right thing,” she said. “He’s going to meet us again in three months, and hopefully our issues will be resolved.”

Joel Carr, the national representative for health and safety for Unifor, said he’s also adopting a wait-and-see stance.

“In three months, we’ll see what’s happening,” he said. “We have a timeline… So that’s good news.”

Last month, GE spokeswoman Kim Warburton was asked to respond to the report. She wrote the following statement to

“In Ontario, workers who believe they have an illness caused by workplace conditions have the right to submit claims for compensation to the Ontario Worker’s Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). We fully support the rights of workers to make claims to the WSIB. We are aware of the report issued by a local committee supported by Unifor for review by the WSIB. We recognize that the WSIB is an independent decision-making body and that it may consider information it deems to be relevant in its review process. WSIB claims process and outcomes inquiries are best addressed by the WSIB. GE has and will continue to cooperate with the WSIB by providing applicable information as requested.”