LifeLabs Workers in B.C. Begin Strike Action
LifeLabs Workers in B.C. Rally to Launch Strike Over Wages and Staffing Issues
Several LifeLabs employees gathered in Burnaby on Sunday to kick off strike action following months of unsuccessful negotiations over wages, working conditions, and understaffing, according to their union.
The B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), which represents around 1,200 LifeLabs workers in the province, issued a 72-hour strike notice on Thursday. The union reports that 98 percent of members voted in favor of the strike, with nearly 80 percent turnout.
A key demand is wage parity with public-sector laboratory technicians performing similar work.
“There’s a wage gap of anywhere between four and 16 percent compared to hospital workers doing the same jobs,” said Mandy De Fields, a Victoria-based medical laboratory technologist and chair of the bargaining committee. “We’re losing skilled professionals to higher-paying jobs, and we need to close that gap.”
De Fields told CTV News that LifeLabs is struggling with staff retention and recruitment due to high turnover, with employees seeking better work-life balance.
“We’re not just advocating for ourselves—B.C. doctors rely on us too,” she said. “Seventy percent of their medical decisions are based on the test results we provide.”
BCGEU president Paul Finch stated that workers are also pushing for better scheduling and stronger occupational health and safety protections.
“We need proper full-time scheduling that recognizes the importance of this work and ensures reliability,” Finch said.
The strike follows the August 2023 acquisition of LifeLabs by U.S.-based Quest Diagnostics for $1.35 billion.
“Our members want to send a strong message to this American company that we oppose the expansion of a for-profit health model in Canada,” Finch added. “They’re fighting not just for themselves, but for their clients and the integrity of the Canadian health-care system.”
Since LifeLabs is classified as an essential service, the strike will involve rotating laboratory closures.
In a statement, LifeLabs said it is working to minimize disruptions for customers and urged patients to check its website for updates on open locations.
