Brandon lab workers who provide community testing have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, the union representing them says, as talks with Dynacare remain stalled more than four months after the previous contract expired.
What the vote means locally
Members of the union that represents some 350 Dynacare lab employees in Manitoba — including staff in Brandon and Winnipeg — voted in favour of strike action by margins exceeding 90 per cent, with technologists and technicians recorded at 99.7 per cent in favour, the union reported. The last collective agreement for the group expired on April 1.
The union has not issued a formal strike notice, saying it prefers to return to bargaining. Negotiations began in February, moved into mediation in July and have yet to produce a tentative agreement.
Capacity and concern for patient access
Dynacare is the only company providing non-hospital testing in Manitoba. The union told media its members performed more than 15 million lab tests in 2024-25 and warned that a labour stoppage could place significant strain on the public hospital system.
Manitobans interviewed in Winnipeg expressed worry about timely access to testing if a strike were to proceed. While those comments were gathered in Winnipeg, the concerns are directly relevant to Brandon, where many routine and urgent community tests are sent to Dynacare site(s).
- Union representation: about 350 lab workers across the province.
- Strike vote results: over 90% in favour generally; 99.7% among technologists and technicians.
- Service volume: more than 15 million tests reported performed in 2024-25.
Positions from the parties
Dynacare issued a statement underscoring its interest in resolving the dispute and its focus on continuing to provide services in Manitoba.
"We respect the right of our employees to bargain in good faith, as represented by a third party. Our focus remains on providing quality healthcare services in Manitoba, of which our employees play an integral part. Dynacare looks forward to achieving an equitable resolution as soon as possible."
The union cites heavy workloads and stagnant wages as key drivers of the job action mandate. A provincial government spokesperson said officials are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to work with health-system partners to ensure care remains available to Manitobans.
Local implications and next steps
For patients in Brandon, the practical implications would depend on whether a strike notice is issued and the duration of any work stoppage. Many routine blood tests, referrals and monitoring bloodwork ordered by community clinicians go through Dynacare’s non-hospital network; hospitals would absorb additional test volumes only to the extent their capacity allows.
Key forthcoming developments to watch include whether the union issues a strike notice, any further bargaining sessions or mediated progress, and statements from local health authorities about contingency plans for maintaining urgent testing services.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Union membership (Manitoba) | ~350 workers |
| Vote in favour (technologists/technicians) | 99.7% |
| Tests performed (2024-25) | 15,000,000+ |
| Last agreement expired | April 1 |
Until bargaining produces a deal or a strike notice is filed, Dynacare sites in Brandon will remain open. Local patients and clinicians are advised to monitor updates from the employer, the union and provincial health officials for any change that could affect appointment availability or specimen processing times.
This developing labour dispute highlights the reliance of Brandon and the wider province on a single non-hospital laboratory provider and the potential ripple effects on community health services when contract talks break down.
