BARRIE,
ON, May 3, 2024 /CNW/ - After over a year of
bargaining, LifeLabs workers from Orillia, Barrie, Collingwood, and Wasaga Beach are on strike for a contract that
empowers them to provide high quality patient care.
LifeLabs, and its CEO Charlie
Brown, are putting profits over patient care. He would
rather disrupt access to laboratory services and create barriers
for patients by forcing them to travel further, then reach a fair
deal.
Both parties worked until late in the evening on Wednesday, May 1st but were unable to reach a
tentative agreement that addressed outstanding issues like sick
leave. After a global pandemic we know paid sick leave is an
important right for all workers. LifeLabs management wants to
divide full-time and part-time workers and force part-time workers
to accept less than they deserve.
This majority female workforce has been sounding the alarm about
chronic understaffing that prevents them from conducting regular
and mandatory health and safety inspections. Additionally, members
asked management for security services because of incidents of
assaults against staff from patients. Lifelabs management hasn't
responded to these crucial concerns from members but has managed to
address them for the scabs they hired. Its clear management can
create healthy, safe and fair working conditions but is picking and
choosing when to do so. In a medical laboratory, health and safety
should be the foremost priority.
"After dragging their feet for over a year, the employer has
failed to offer members a fair deal. Instead, they've been forced
out on the street," said OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick. "We're
ready to hold the line until our needs are met. The employer may
have deep pockets, but that's no match for the collective power of
organized workers! United, we will not be defeated."
"The employer is making a clear choice to prioritize profits
over workers and patient care," said OPSEU/SEFPO Local 389
President, Renee Aiken Kearsley.
"Charles Brown can prevent further
disruption of laboratory services by returning to the bargaining
table to negotiate a fair deal."
The members of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 389 include Laboratory
Technicians and Medical Laboratory Assistants who perform critical
medical testing to ensure timely diagnosis. They stand firm in
their demands for a fair contract so they can provide the highest
quality of patient care.
Picket lines will be running throughout Simcoe County LifeLabs
locations daily.
Barrie:
When:
Monday to Friday, 6 AM to 3 PM
Saturday 10 AM to 3:30 PM
Where: 121 Wellington St W #106
When: Monday to Friday, 7 AM to
4:30 PM
Where: 480 Huronia Rd #201
Orillia:
When: Monday to Friday,
7 AM to 4:30 PM
Where: 210 Memorial Ave #107
Wasaga Beach:
When: Monday to Friday,
7 AM to 4:30 PM
Where: 14 Ramblewood Dr #104
SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO)