Dynacare employees in Winnipeg and Brandon are on the brink of a strike due to heavy workloads and stagnant wages, according to their union. Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals revealed that 99.7% of laboratory technicians and technologists voted in favor of strike action this week, with 87% of the nearly 350 Dynacare workers participating in the vote. The workers have been without a contract since the previous one expired on April 1.
These employees are stationed at Dynacare’s 22 lab and health services facilities in and around Winnipeg and Brandon, including the main lab on King Edward Street in Winnipeg. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, they collectively conducted over 15 million lab tests, as stated in a recent news release.
Jason Linklater, the president of MAHCP, highlighted that despite increased workloads, the pay for Dynacare workers has remained stagnant. He pointed out that the current wages for lab professionals at Dynacare are notably lower, ranging from 20 to 50% less than what Shared Health employees receive for similar specialized work, varying based on classification and years of service.
Linklater emphasized that the vote outcome indicates that the lab workers are unified and frustrated with the situation. He mentioned the challenges of recruitment and retention when wages and benefits are significantly below those offered in the public system. The collective agreement between Dynacare and MAHCP expired on March 31, and negotiations for a new agreement began in February. Despite entering mediation in July, the parties have not reached a tentative agreement.
The union disclosed that no further bargaining or mediation dates have been scheduled at present. While the union would need to provide notice before initiating a strike, no deadline has been set yet to prevent disruptions in lab services within the province. Linklater stressed the union’s goal to prompt Dynacare to resume negotiations and reach a mutually beneficial agreement with lab professionals across Manitoba.
Additionally, the union highlighted that Dynacare currently holds a monopoly on non-hospital testing in the province following the acquisition of competitor Unicity Labs in 2017. Notably, Dynacare is a subsidiary of Labcorp, an American company whose profits have more than doubled in the past two years, soaring from $418 million in 2023 to $876 million in 2025, according to the union’s statement.