Some non-urgent diagnostic tests in Manitoba will face a two-week delay due to a strike by Dynacare lab workers across the province. The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals reported that 350 laboratory technicians and technologists initiated the strike, ceasing operations at all Dynacare locations in the area. Picketing began at various locations, including Winnipeg and other cities, after contract talks collapsed when the company refused to increase wages. Workers expressed dissatisfaction with their pay compared to public system counterparts and raised concerns about heavy workloads.
Shayleen Quiring, a Dynacare lab technician, highlighted the disparity in pay and workload, emphasizing the challenges faced by workers. Shared Health advised against visiting emergency rooms or urgent care departments for bloodwork unless directed by a doctor. To address the disruption, Shared Health plans to enhance capacity and hours at specific diagnostic service locations gradually and may introduce temporary collection sites as needed.
Dr. Chris Christodoulou, interim CEO of Shared Health, emphasized the importance of prioritizing patients with urgent tests, including cancer and preoperative surgical tests. Routine physical exam tests will be delayed for a minimum of two weeks, according to him. Shared Health aims to maintain services for individuals requiring time-sensitive testing while acknowledging potential impacts on service delivery due to prolonged disruptions.
Dynacare, a subsidiary of Labcorp, became Manitoba’s sole private outpatient provider for laboratory services following its acquisition of competitor Unicity Labs. The Labour Minister filed an application with the Manitoba Labour Board to designate lab staff as essential workers amid the strike. The union’s president expressed workers’ discontent and emphasized the strike’s purpose of pressuring Dynacare to offer fair compensation.
In a previous vote, 99.7% of Dynacare workers supported strike action, signaling widespread dissatisfaction within the workforce.