April 18 2025

Frontline health care workers, union leaders, and advocates rallied at the BC Legislature this week, demanding the government urgently return lab services to the public system to help protect patient care, improve working conditions, and strengthen the integrity of health care in the province. 

The demonstration was organized by the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) to push for change following the disastrous takeover of LifeLabs by a U.S.-based multinational. Diagnostic lab services  are a  vital  part of  health care that are performed by professionals such as Medical Lab Technologists (MLTs), Technicians and Assistants to help identify the nature of a patient’s disease so that proper treatment can be provided. 

The crisis in lab services has only gotten worse since the for-profit takeover, and the workers have been on rotating strike since February calling for fair wages, safer working conditions, and better care for patients. LifeLabs employees currently earn up to 16% less than public sector counterparts, despite doing the same essential work. 

‘’These are highly trained professionals who want to serve patients, not American corporate interests,” said BCGEU President Paul Finch. “What our members are saying is the profit-focused model is making things worse for everyone , and these are vital services that should be delivered in the public interest, with fair conditions for workers, proper care standards and strong privacy protections.”

The B.C. government pledged to explore alternatives to for-profit lab services after years of public concern over rising costs, service delays, and a lack of transparency. And this month, Premier David Eby announced that American contracts would be cancelled wherever possible.

“US-owned LifeLabs currently handles more than two-thirds of outpatient lab tests in the province, so now is the time for the government to follow through,” Finch said. “To be clear again, public ownership of lab services will ensure faster, more integrated care, and will reinvest public funds into patient care — not private profit. This is what the population deserves, and it’s what these health care workers deserve as part of our public system.”

A recent survey conducted by Abacus Data on behalf of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) confirms a strong majority of health professionals believe in public care. In fact, the most significant reasons healthcare workers cite for refusing careers in for-private healthcare are a belief in equal access to healthcare (61%) and concerns about maintaining high standards of patient care (59%).

But the survey also found that three in four health care workers are facing financial stress. Many are struggling to afford basic living expenses, while others have been forced to take on second jobs just to get by.

”This is unacceptable on every level — for workers, for patients, and frankly, for Canada,” said Bert Blundon, President of NUPGE representing over 425,000 workers, including members of the BCGEU. “The fact that, according to our survey, 40% of health care workers are considering leaving the sector within the next three years, is a crisis.”

Blundon, who joined the workers at the BC rally, said this is why the Lifelabs workers’ fight is critical, and it’s why NUPGE and unions across the country have been working to ensure health care is not pushed aside in the current federal election. “Quality, public health care that’s accessible when we need it and supported by fair treatment for workers is a core Canadian value,” he said. “BC must get it right, and all of Canada must get it right.’’