Hundreds of Dynacare employees have been instructed to return to work by the Manitoba Labour Board, as confirmed by their union. Following a decision issued by the labour board on the day the lab technicians and technologists at Dynacare initiated a strike, the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals announced on Tuesday that the workers must resume their duties starting Wednesday.
Union president Jason Linklater expressed disappointment in the government’s support of the private, American-owned company over the underpaid frontline healthcare workers. He stated that the ruling signifies a significant loss of trust in the Manitoba government and criticized it for interfering in labor matters. Despite exploring options to challenge this government intervention, the union will comply with the temporary order.
The province has raised concerns about the potential “catastrophic consequences” of the lab workers’ strike at Dynacare, emphasizing the importance of maintaining essential services. The dispute, debated during a session at the Manitoba Labour Board, revolves around whether the striking lab workers should be allowed to continue their work stoppage, which began earlier that day due to contract negotiation issues with Dynacare.
Labour Minister Malaya Marcelino submitted an application for an interim order before the strike commenced, urging the labour board to keep 350 Dynacare employees working to avoid severe repercussions. The province argued that a full service resumption is crucial to prevent immediate and irreversible risks caused by the strike, citing the impact on various diagnostic testing services.
During the hearing, it was highlighted that Dynacare workers play a significant role in conducting a substantial portion of lab tests in Manitoba, including crucial procedures like phlebotomies and cytologies. The potential consequences of the strike were underscored, such as delays in essential screenings and monitoring, affecting patients’ health and increasing wait times for healthcare services.
The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals questioned the timing of the government’s urgency in designating lab workers as essential, pointing out that the situation had remained unchanged since March. The union’s representative emphasized the need for a thorough evaluation of the circumstances and criticized the sudden government intervention in a longstanding issue.
The Manitoba Labour Board is expected to deliver its decision by the end of the day following the hearing.