The Manitoba labour board has ordered striking Dynacare workers to return to the lab Wednesday, following a one-day strike.
Hundreds of health-care workers took to picket lines across Manitoba on Tuesday morning after negotiations stalled between the company and the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals (MAHCP), according to its union president, Jason Linklater.
“The Manitoba Labour Board is doing exactly what the government asked them to do: they are taking away our members’ right to fight for fairness,” Linklater said in a news release Tuesday afternoon, noting that the union is halting its strike for now, but is “exploring options to address the government’s interference.”
The MAHCP represents 350 Dynacare technologists and technicians.
“A significant outcome of all of this is the profound erosion of trust in this NDP government,” Linklater said.
“If government is willing to take away the rights of these laboratory professionals to save themselves money, then they will do the same to other Manitoba workers.”
Union workers were protesting Dynacare’s refusal to address the 20-50 per cent wage gap between its workers and public sector labs, according to an earlier MAHCP news release.
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Linklater said the province could have supported frontline workers and health-care professionals, “but instead they threw them under the bus – they made a harmful choice.”
In response to the labour board’s decision, the Manitoba government reiterated its responsibility to assure residents have access to health care.
“The Manitoba government’s fundamental responsibility is to ensure the provision of essential health care services. This is why we have asked the independent Labour Board to review this matter,” the province said in an email statement for Global News.
Dynacare is the province’s primary outpatient lab diagnostic provider, it said, adding that the province is encouraging the company to return to the bargaining table.
Dynacare welcomed the interim order, a spokesperson said in an email statement.
“Today’s decision reflects the board’s conclusion that the ongoing strike has the potential to adversely affect the health, safety, or welfare of Manitobans and that interim relief is warranted while the application is considered on its merits,” the statement reads.
“We recognize this has been a stressful period for our team, and they will have our full support as they return to providing health-care services to Manitobans.”
Dynacare took “every possible step” to resolve the contract dispute with the union, including mediation and interest arbitration, according to the company spokesperson.
“We remain committed to reaching a fair and equitable agreement with MAHCP, and we call on the union to use the time ahead of the full labour board hearing to return to the table and reach a lasting resolution,” the statement continued.
Dynacare expects operations to resume as normal on Wednesday morning.
Speaking from a Winnipeg picket line outside of Dynacare’s Garden City clinic before the labour board decision, Linklater told reporters the MAHCP last spoke with Dynacare Friday.
“They came to the table with additional money that was tantamount to telling us to ‘get lost.’ It was extremely offensive what they came (with). It was mocking, is what it was,” he said.
“This is very indicative of the state of health care right now. If people don’t start getting paid what they’re worth, they will simply leave.”
Bunch of lazy ass entitled people that should all be fired, and replace with proper workers who want to work, not just piss and moan
Outrageous!!!!