Unhappy Dynacare staff refuse OT shifts; doors could be closed at clinics with Saturday hours
Some Winnipeg Dynacare sites normally open on Saturday were closed last week, and may continue to be because staff are refusing to pick up overtime shifts after they were forced back to work amid a labour dispute with the company.
Winnipeg Dynacare clinics that typically operate on Saturdays experienced closures last week due to staff refusing to work overtime shifts. The dispute stems from a labor disagreement with the company. The union representing 350 Dynacare employees claims the company pays them 20 to 50 percent less than their public-sector counterparts.
Despite the company offering double and triple overtime pay, the union has struggled to find technicians for weekend shifts. Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals president Jason Linklater expressed concern, stating that the company's low wages make it difficult to staff labs adequately. As a result, the Manitoba government intervened, issuing an interim order to force the workers back to work while determining if they provide an essential service.
Dynacare stated that only four of the seven labs that usually open on Saturdays were open last week, citing operational needs and staffing resources. They anticipate these locations would likely reopen this weekend, subject to staff availability. The union believes fair wages would encourage more staff to work on Saturdays. If the wage gap is not resolved soon, the services Manitobans rely on could face increasing risks.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
