Canadian Press File Photo

By Victor Kaisar

LifeLabs Strike

As strike continues, BCGEU urging B.C. Government to bring LifeLabs into public system

Apr 13, 2025 | 2:00 PM

BURNABY, B.C. — LifeLabs union members are urging the B.C. government to review the company’s ownership, after Premier David Eby’s announcement to direct ministries and Crown corporations to cut their ties with U.S. suppliers.

American Fortune 500 company Quest Diagnostics bought LifeLabs last year, and now the company is in charge of most of the outpatient lab work done across B.C.

It has been more than seven weeks since LifeLabs workers began job action against their employer, and the BC General Employees’ Union says it applauds the province’s recent move to sever ties with U.S. suppliers in favour of supporting Canadian businesses.

BCGEU president Paul Finch says there is no “economic justification” to allow a U.S. corporation to provide outpatient diagnostic services in the province.

“The BCGEU is calling on government to make good on their announcement and bring LifeLabs’ services into the public system,” Finch said.

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A recent poll commissioned by the BCGEU showed a majority of people – 74 per cent – in British Columbia oppose for-profit American companies owning and controlling health care services in the province.

Finch previously said laboratory technicians working in the public sector are doing the same work as LifeLabs’ employees but there is a substantial wage gap between four and 16 per cent, which is up to $4 an hour.

The union also said that those workers have been without a contract since April 1, 2024, and in November, they voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action. Since then, workers have been taking part in rotating strikes across the province, following LifeLabs’ designation as an essential service.

“LifeLabs has made it clear at the bargaining table that Quest is calling the shots,” Finch added. “Our members and the public are already noticing a decline in services since they took over last year.”

LifeLabs says it serves more than 7.1 million patients in B.C. at 129 collection centres located in urban and rural communities.

Clients are being asked to check LifeLabs’ online location finder for information on centres that are open for service.

– With files from The Canadian Press