Dynacare workers go on strike

Hundreds of Dynacare workers in Manitoba are officially on strike. According to a social media post from the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals (MAHCP), 350 lab technicians and technologists walked off the job as of 6 a.m. on Tuesday. This brings operations to a halt at all 22 of Dynacare's laboratory and health services centres. 'We don't know how long this process is going to take. It could be today. It could be days,' said Jason Linklater, MAHCP president. 'This is an untested event in Manitoba for this to happen. Certainly, the labour board has their work cut out for them, but both our legal teams are out there today trying to help things come to a decision.' According to the union, negotiations are centred on a 'massive wage gap,' with workers currently earning 20 to 50 per cent less than those who work in public labs. 'If this doesn't resolve with these people being compensated with parity to their public system counterparts, we are absolutely going to see another influx of lab professionals leaving Dynacare,' Linklater said. Dynacare workers will be hitting the picket lines weekdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at locations in Winnipeg, Brandon, Winkler and Steinbach. In a statement, Dynacare said its priorities are protecting access to laboratory services and reaching a fair agreement. The company noted it's hopeful a resolution will be reached, adding that a hearing before the Manitoba Labour Board is pending. 'We continue to urge MAHCP to accept interest arbitration, a fair and independent process that would resolve this without disruption to community laboratory services,' the statement said. 'Every path to a resolution remains available, and we are committed to reaching an outcome that is fair for our employees and for the patients who depend on us.' For patients who require laboratory services, Shared Health said planning is underway to minimize impact and ensure the continuity of services. It noted that emergency and time-sensitive diagnostic services will continue with testing prioritized based on urgency and patient need. 'Every reasonable effort is being made to minimize disruption to appointments and outpatient services and maintain safe, timely access to care,' it said in a news release. 'Shared Health is also mindful of the impact this situation may have on staff and care teams, who may experience additional pressures as they work to maintain services. Shared Health greatly appreciates their continued professionalism, flexibility and commitment to patients.' Shared Health said it's also expanding laboratory collection services through additional appointments and increased hours at select Shared Health diagnostic service locations. There's also the possibility of temporary collection locations. Patients in need of routine or non-urgent testing should go to the appropriate diagnostic service locations and not emergency departments or urgent care centres.