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LifeLabs strike at 6 weeks and counting on Vancouver Island and across B.C.

Vancouver Island outlets among 100 affected by ongoing contract dispute
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The six-week old rotating LifeLabs strike in B.C. continues, with workers at the LifeLabs location on Ingram Street in Duncan taking to the streets on March 26. Pictured are, from left, Dale Nordstrom, Kate Clark and Bho Webb picketing in the rain in front of their workplace. Workers at the LifeLabs on Ingram Street have been picketing twice a week since the strike began on Feb. 27. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

The six-week old rotating LifeLabs strike in B.C. continues, with workers from the Duncan location taking to the streets on March 26 in another display of job action.

Workers at the  Ingram Street location have been picketing twice a week since the strike began on Feb. 27.

The B.C. General Employees’ Union, which represents about 1,200 LifeLab workers at 100 centres that offer laboratory testing services across the province, are taking part in the strike, which began on Feb. 16.

The union said tjob action follows months of negotiations and LifeLabs' refusal to bring wages and benefits in line with the cost of living, or to address poor working conditions resulting from chronic under staffing.

"LifeLabs workers receive four to 16 per cent below what others in their industry get paid and they are struggling to make ends meet," said BCGEU president Paul Finch. "Now that LifeLabs is owned by Quest Diagnostics, a billion-dollar U.S. health giant, we are fighting against an American for-profit model of healthcare and its impacts on workers."

LifeLabs said in a statement that the company would like to continue to negotiate and work with the union to reach an agreement that is mutually acceptable and reflects the value its employees bring to their roles each day.

“In the meantime, our highest priority is to ensure continuity of care for the people of British Columbia, who rely on us for their testing needs,” LifeLabs said.

“As a designated essential service, LifeLabs will continue to operate, however some Patient Services Centres may be subject to rotating temporary closures. We will do everything in our power to minimize the disruption this creates for our customers and clients.”

 



Robert Barron

About the Author: Robert Barron

Since 2016, I've had had the pleasure of working with our dedicated staff and community in the Cowichan Valley.
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