Have worked without new contract since March, 2017: Unifor
Medical lab assistants and medical lab technologists working at Medical Laboratories of Windsor, Ont., represented by Unifor Local 2458, went on strike at midnight on Oct. 2.
"These members are performing highly skilled, technical jobs that provide vital medical information for patients, yet many are making half of what those doing the same job in a hospital are paid," said Tullio DiPonti, Local 2458 secretary-treasurer.
Since the Ontario government began to contract out to for-profit labs, wages for lab workers working outside the hospital system have fallen steadily while the cost to the system has increased, said the union.
For the first five years of service, medical lab technologists earn $22 per hour and medical lab assistants earn $13.50. The workers have been without a contract since March 2017, according to Unifor.
"The workers did not make the decision to strike lightly. They care about the patients they serve but the time has come to stand up for fairness," said Chris Taylor, Unifor national representative.
