LifeLabs union workers taking job action
Posted October 22, 2021 12:05 pm.
Last Updated October 22, 2021 4:22 pm.
With no collective agreement in place, more than 1,500 unionized LifeLabs workers will begin job action Friday night.
The B.C General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) served 72-hour strike notice on Tuesday, saying there are still outstanding issues after “several months of negotiations, 30 days at the bargaining table, and eight days of mediation.”
The BCGEU says employees will refuse voluntary overtime hours and will begin a “work-to-rule campaign,” which it defines as “workers performing their jobs precisely as outlined in their job descriptions and their last collective agreement.” These actions will be in effect at 94 LifeLabs locations.
If a deal isn’t reached by Nov. 1, the union says workers are prepared to escalate things to include picket lines at some locations.
Unionized @LifeLabsworkers starting job action.
The @bcgeu members starting with rally Saturday then pickets Monday, November 1st. (*corrected tweet for date – again)#bcpoli @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/v9aAPiuCVw— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) October 22, 2021
The BCGEU says members working for LifeLabs, which provides a wide range of medical testing services, including COVID-19 testing, are “among the ‘healthcare heroes’” who have worked through the pandemic.
“Instead of coming to the table willing to recognize the hard work and sacrifices of their employees by addressing long-standing issues with low wages and under-staffing, LifeLabs came to the table demanding concessions,” President Stephanie Smith said Wednesday.
She says members earn on average between 4.5 to 13.5 per cent less than others in the public sector under the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association.
Related article: LifeLabs union workers issue 72-hour strike notice
On Friday, LifeLabs said it is “committed to negotiations and hope to reach a fair agreement soon.”
It adds all LifeLabs locations will be open as regularly scheduled over the coming the weekend.
However on Wednesday, it said “some patient service centres will be closed on a rotating basis as a result of the job action starting on Monday, October 25,” adding those who need to reschedule appointments will be contacted by LifeLabs directly.
The union claims initial proposals from LifeLabs earlier this year “sought to take away sick benefits and vacation days.” Those issues have since been resolved, but members say the employer continues to push back against “secure wages” that would bring them closer to industry standards.
Unionized workers are holding a rally in Burnaby on Saturday to mark the beginning of job action.
With files from Hana Mae Nassar and Liza Yuzda
