Dynacare labs quickly reach capacity ahead of strike

Patients were turned away at several Dynacare locations on Saturday morning as people queued to get their blood collected before a workers' strike. By 10:30 a.m., the lobby at the Dynacare lab at 1581 Regent Ave. was so crowded that walk-in patients were being turned away, with wait times extending past two hours. One woman managed to get in just before the lab cut off walk-ins at 10 a.m., after visiting two other locations that were either closed or had long lines.

Many Winnipeg labs closed early due to the impending strike, and those that remained open shortened their hours. The median wait time at Regent Ave. grew to around 45 minutes mid-morning. A security guard at the entrance informed patients that the lab was at capacity. By 11 a.m., all Dynacare locations in Winnipeg were marked as closed on the company's website.

Saturday was the final chance for those in need to visit Dynacare, as the lab is typically closed on Sundays and holidays. Dynacare, which conducts blood tests at 22 locations in Winnipeg, Brandon, and surrounding areas, is locked in contract negotiations with the union representing its 350 workers. The union accused the provincial government of giving Dynacare an $11.7-million boost after the last round of negotiations in 2022, yet workers did not receive a fair share of the funds.

Negotiations ended on Friday when Dynacare rejected the union's counter-proposal and ended conciliation. The collective agreement expired on March 31. Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals president Jason Linklater stated that workers are not being paid fairly and accused the province of meddling in the negotiations. The province requested a labour board review of the strike, which will take place on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

Health officials warned that any disruption would severely impact the healthcare system. Shared Health, along with regional health authorities, CancerCare Manitoba, and the government, worked to prepare for the walkout. Emergency and time-sensitive diagnostic testing would continue, prioritized according to clinical urgency and patient need.

The union accused Dynacare of cancelling a scheduled meeting on Friday and sending a new offer to the lead negotiator. The union deemed the offer an insult, as it did not address the significant wage gap. Dynacare argued that its offer reflects the maximum it can "sustainably provide" and remains open to interest arbitration as the fairest path to resolving the dispute.