Medical lab workers ratify contract, ending strike
Medical Laboratories of Windsor workers voted 81 per cent in favour of a new collective agreement Friday, ending a three-week strike.
“Our membership really wanted to go back to work, but they also wanted to stand firm on their belief that making $12.50/hr to start for a profession that you need to be certified and go to school for was not acceptable,” said Unifor Local 2458 secretary-treasurer Tullio DiPonti.
DiPonti expects that the medical laboratory employees should be back to work by Monday.
The 90 medical lab assistants and technicians had been on strike since Oct. 2. The new contract offers a 1.5-per-cent wage increase the first year, 75 cents extra per hour in the second year and 1.5 per cent in the third year. There were also some benefit and vacation time increases.
“The membership made it clear to us that the money was important, but also the respect from Medical (Laboratories) of Windsor was important,” DiPonti said. “Ninety-nine per cent of the members have never been on strike so this was a first for them, and they wanted to show they were united.”
Dina Roushanroz, chairman of the union local representing Medical Laboratories of Windsor workers, said it was a long three weeks but the members are happy to be returning to work and appreciate all the support from the community.
“It’s nice that our patients get to return back and go to the labs they need to and get their blood work done,” Roushanroz said.
“We appreciate the community for sticking by us and supporting us.”