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Unionized LifeLabs workers in British Columbia to take job action

Unionized LifeLabs workers in British Columbia to take job action | iNFOnews.ca
A laboratory technologist at LifeLabs, demonstrates one of the steps taken when a specimen is tested for COVID-19 at the company's lab, in Surrey, B.C., on March 26, 2020. The union representing some workers at LifeLabs, the largest provider of medical laboratory services in British Columbia, says members will go on strike starting Friday night. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

BURNABY, B.C. – The union representing some workers at LifeLabs, the largest provider of medical laboratory services in British Columbia, says its members plan to take job action.

The B.C. General Employees' Union says a rally is scheduled outside a LifeLabs in Burnaby on Saturday as workers plan to refuse voluntary overtime and work to rule, starting Friday night.

The job action covers all 94 LifeLabs locations where the union represents workers.

LifeLabs says on its website that it has been designated an essential service by the B.C. Labour Relations Board but expects there will be some disruption to its work.

Workers have been without a contract since April and the union says wages are the main issue, although LifeLabs says on its website that agreement had been reached on key monetary provisions before the union rejected its latest offer.

The union says its members will set up picket lines if a suitable contract hasn't been reached by Nov. 1.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2021.

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Carli Berry

Carli Berry has been telling stories in the Okanagan for the past three years and after finding her footing in the newspaper industry, joined the Infonews team in January 2020. Recipient of the 2019 MA Murray award for feature writing, Carli is passionate about stories that involve housing, business and the environment. Born on Vancouver Island, she is happy to say Okanagan Lake reminds, her slightly, of the ocean. Carli can be reached at (250) 864-7494 or email cberry@infonews.ca.

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