Cardiac-testing staff at clinic issue strike notice over wages

The union representing cardiology technicians and technologists warn a looming strike at a private clinic could impact a system already facing job vacancies.

Five techs who work out of the WELL Health clinic located in the Manitoba Clinic issued a strike mandate Tuesday after unsuccessful negotiations. The sticking point is wages, the union said.

Jason Linklater, president of the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, said the workers perform up to 180 tests per day, including EKGs and stress tests.

“Delays are an inconvenience for patients, and there’s potential delays for the cardiologists there who are ordering tests as well,” Linklater said. “It will certainly be felt if this escalates.”

The employers first and final offer was rejected by the union Thursday. If another offer isn’t presented, workers plan to walk off the job on May 19. Linklater declined to disclose the wage figure offered, but said it is 27 per cent below the industry standard.

The employees make less than the average wage for cardiology technologists in the province, Linklater said.

The union represents about 100 full-time and part-time techs working in hospitals and clinics, which account for the majority of such positions in Manitoba.

Although WELL Health is privately operated, testing ordered by a physician or health-care professional there is covered under the province’s publicly funded health system.

A strike could mean cancelled or rescheduled appointments for hundreds of patients. The techs do not have an essential services agreement with their employer, which is provincial legislation that mandates essential health-care continues in the event of a strike.

Those with scheduled appointments for cardiology tests at the clinic are asked to call their doctor’s office with questions.

A Shared Health spokesperson declined to comment on what impact the strike could have on cardiology operations, saying the health authority has no affiliation with the private company. The spokesperson could not provide data on the number of cardiology tests performed at Shared Health facilities before deadline.

WELL Health Technologies Corp., a B.C.-based company with a national network of more than 180 clinics, bought the Manitoba Clinic in 2023 after the clinic entered bankruptcy protection in 2022.

The company operates six clinics across Winnipeg.

Cardiac technicians are in high demand across the country, but the industry is facing vacancies, Linklater said. He said there is a 15 per cent job vacancy rate among technologists and technicians represented by the union.

“Given the corporate profits on the small amount at issue that we’re talking about, I certainly hope the employer comes back to the table,” Linklater said.

WELL did not respond to a request for comment.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca