Picket lines go up at some LifeLabs locations as workers begin strike action

Picket lines are up at several LifeLabs locations in B.C. as unionized workers begin strike action.

Workers unionized with the B.C. General Employees Union (BCGEU) kicked off job action on Sunday with a one-day strike rally in Burnaby.

1:49 LifeLabs workers begin strike action

The union is pushing for higher wages, stronger benefits and solutions to understaffing.

LifeLabs has been designated an essential service so it will continue to operate but rotating closures will begin starting on Thursday.

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The company is encouraging people to check its website to learn which locations are open.

LifeLabs serves more than 7.1 million patients in B.C. every year at 129 collection centres running hundreds of thousands of diagnostic tests each day, according to the company.

“Our members took a 98 per cent strike vote,” Paul Finch, president of the BCGEU, told Global News.

1:51 LifeLabs workers on strike

“Obviously the key issues, we’re far apart on compensation…. We want parity with what the public sector workers doing the same work get as well as scheduling, which is incredibly important. Anyone who has been to a LifeLabs in the last few years knows that scheduling is a key thing here.”

In a statement, LifeLabs said it “respects the negotiation process and employees’ right to pursue their interests. We would like to continue to negotiate and work with the union to reach an agreement that is mutually acceptable and reflects the value our employees bring to their roles each day.

“Our highest priority is to ensure continuity of care for the people of British Columbia, who rely on us for their testing needs. As a designated essential service, LifeLabs will continue to operate, however, beginning today, some Patient Services Centres will be subject to rotating temporary closures. We will do everything in our control to minimize the disruption this creates for our customers and clients.”