Manitoba labour board classifies Dynacare workers as essential

The Manitoba labour board has ruled that medical testing workers at Dynacare are to be classified as essential workers in the event of a strike or lockout. This decision follows labor unrest involving the private outpatient laboratory provider, which is owned by the American healthcare company Labcorp.

Previously, approximately 350 Dynacare laboratory workers went on strike in September. Workers and organizers have raised concerns regarding pay disparities, noting that technicians can earn up to 50 percent less than colleagues at province-owned Shared Health laboratories. Employees also cited issues with the cost of living, chronic understaffing, and high-pressure productivity tracking that contributes to burnout and stress.