Dynacare strike set to begin before hearing into essential services agreement

Hundreds of Dynacare lab employees are set to walk off the job on Tuesday, just hours before a labour board hearing to decide if they are essential workers. Dynacare, a private company that handles the majority of outpatient lab tests in Manitoba, performs over 24 million laboratory tests and 1.3 million blood collections annually across its 22 sites in Winnipeg, Brandon, Winkler, and surrounding communities.

The dispute centers on wages, with Dynacare's workers demanding wage parity with their public-sector counterparts who work at Shared Health labs. The union has set a strike deadline of 6 a.m. on September 8, expressing concern that the public healthcare system lacks the capacity to fill the testing gap that would arise if a strike were to occur. Labour Minister Malaya Marcelino has requested the labour board to intervene, arguing that Dynacare's services are a critical component of Manitoba's healthcare system.

A hearing to determine whether Dynacare's services are deemed essential is scheduled for September 8. Dynacare's final offer, submitted on Friday, did not address the wage gap, leading to the union rejecting the proposal and ending conciliation efforts. Dynacare's chief medical and scientific officer, Dr. Jenisa Naidoo, highlighted the importance of the lab tests in detecting and managing various medical conditions, emphasizing the company's role in maintaining the health of Manitobans.