Dynacare workers on strike across Manitoba over wage dispute

Dynacare laboratory technicians and technologists are on strike after contract negotiations with the private company stalled Friday, bringing operations at all Manitoba locations to a halt.

The company, which conducts blood and other medical tests at 22 outlets in Winnipeg, Brandon and surrounding communities, is deadlocked in contract negotiations with the union that represents its 350 workers.

Jason Linklater, president of the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, spoke to reporters at a picket line at a Dynacare facility on McPhillips Street Tuesday morning, where dozens of workers held signs and urged motorists to honk in support of the strike.

Linklater said the union remains open to “substantive talks” with the company.

Negotiations ended last week after Dynacare rejected the union’s counter-proposal and ended conciliation. The collective agreement expired on March 31.

The union argues its workers make about 20-50 per cent less than workers who perform similar work at public laboratories at hospitals operated by the provincial health authority Shared Health. MAHCP also represents those workers.

The union is seeking wage parity with public sector workers, but the union said Dynacare was not willing to address that concern last week. Dynacare is funded via contracts with the provincial government.

“Dynacare shouldn’t be that firewall between a privately delivered service that saves government money,” said Linklater.

Linklater said Dynacare workers made similar wages to those in the public sector in 2017, but their wages have remained stagnant.

Dynacare has said its last offer is the most it can sustainably provide, and that the company is open to arbitration.

Linklater said the latest offer was “tantamount to telling us to get lost.”

Pickets were planned outside of Dynacare locations on McPhillips, King Edward and Marion streets in Winnipeg, as well as locations in Brandon, Winkler and Steinbach.

Linklater previously accused the province of meddling in negotiations between the two sides.

The province has requested a labour board review to determine whether Dynacare operations should be subject to an essential service agreement. The province’s application asks the board to issue an interim order that the workers remain on the job.

The labour board began hearing arguments Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. Linklater said union officials don’t know how long the board may take to issue a decision.

“Until a decision’s made, this is what we’re going to be doing,” he said on the picket line.

Linklater said the union and Dynacare should be bargaining in the interim, but the company has stopped talks.

“There’s nothing stopping that from happening, and (Dynacare) is simply relying on government interference to prevent a deal from getting implemented,” he said.

Health officials have warned the strike would significantly impair the health-care system.

Linklater said disruptions are the point of the job action.

“Certainly, people who have emergency situations, or critical lab work, are still able to get that done through the public system,” he said. “Government should have addressed this issue directly with Dynacare in the contract they have with Dynacare. This should not be put onto the shoulders of the workers and the lab professionals who have the least power in the room.”

Shared Health said its officials, as well as regional health authorities, CancerCare Manitoba and the government have been working together to prepare for the walkout.

However, some elective or non-urgent testing may be delayed, if medically safe to do so.

In an updated statement on Tuesday, Shared Health again advised patients to follow the advice of care providers and seek reassessment if their condition changes while waiting for testing.

It said it will expand its lab collection services to help meet increased demand in phases, including the potential for temporary collection spaces.

Shared Health warned anyone who needs routine or non-urgent testing to go to appropriate locations, not to an emergency department or urgent care centre.

“Every reasonable effort is being made to minimize disruption to appointments and outpatient services and maintain safe, timely access to care,” said Shared Health officials in a Tuesday 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.”

The union has argued the provincial government gave Dynacare, a U.S.-based private firm, an $11.7-million boost after the last round of negotiations in 2022 — and little of the increase went to workers.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca