MEDIA ADVISORY - LifeLabs Simcoe workers protest against union busting tactics

TORONTO, Jan. 13, 2022 /CNW/ - LifeLabs workers will protest against the unfair, unequal treatment of unionized staff, which will ultimately be bad for health care in Simcoe County, outside MPP Doug Downey's constituency office on Friday.

Members from OPSEU/SEFPO Local 389, working at LifeLabs in Simcoe County, are rallying around their right to equal compensation and bonuses, particularly in the face of a retention and recruitment crisis that has led to long lineups, location closures, and verbal and physical abuse against staff by the public.

LifeLabs recently made the decision to compress the wage grid, increasing the starting rate for non-union workers; however, they are choosing to deny the same treatment to unionized workers who are on-staff. In addition to this, unionized workers have also been denied the same bonuses that their non-unionized peers received. 

OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas has called the unequal treatment of unionized workers at LifeLabs in Simcoe County a disgraceful example of union busting, noting that this behavior only serves to further aggravate the recruitment and retention problem and weaken the quality of care for Simcoe County residents.

"LifeLabs is so concerned with union busting that they are pushing away frontline health care workers in the middle of a pandemic, when the Simcoe County community needs health care services the most," said Thomas. "It's time to put ego and union busting aside and treat these frontline heroes with the respect they deserve."

What:              OPSEU/SEFPO Local 389 picket 
Date:               Friday, January 14 
Time:              10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
Location:        MPP Doug Downey Constituency Office, 20 Bell Farm Rd., Barrie

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO)

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