Manitoba’s labour board to hear government request on essential status for lab staff

Manitoba Association of Health Care Professional supporters and workers rally in Winnipeg on Wednesday Sept. 2, 2026. A scheduled strike of 350 laboratory workers in the province is set to take place on Tuesday Sept. 8, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Brittany Hobson

WINNIPEG — The Manitoba Labour Board is scheduled to hear a request next week for medical laboratory staff to be deemed essential workers — the same day they’re set to go on strike.

The board says the hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

Labour Minister Malaya Marcelino, who filed the application last week, says the province has a responsibility to ensure Manitobans can access health-care services.

The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, which represents 350 workers at the privately owned and operated Dynacare, notified the company that members would be striking after contract negotiations stalled.

The union has been pushing for a wage increase to address what it says is a 20 to 50 per cent gap with public-sector lab workers.

Dynacare, in a statement, says it worked hard to avoid labour disruption but supports the government’s choice to seek an essential services agreement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 2, 2026.

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press