Deep River lab workers protest plan to outsource sample testing

"Too many tax dollars are being stuffed in the pockets of the private sector when the evidence shows that public service workers can achieve the same results cheaper and fairer.” — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.

Deep River (09 Feb. 2015) — Medical laboratory workers from Deep River and District Hospital protested plans yesterday to outsource sample testing, a move that will drive up costs and cause delays in patient treatment.

“The message to local residents at our rally today was clear. This is a bad move that guarantees only one winner: the private, for-profit company LifeLabs which gets the work our members have delivered efficiently and cost-effectively,” said Richard Meagher, President of Local 475 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUGPE), which represents the affected lab workers.

Taking message about privatization of sample testing to the public

Several Deep River and District Hospital workers and supporters picketed outside the Valu Mart in Deep River on February 4, where they took their message against outsourcing directly to the public. The plan will come into effect February 9, unless a reversal is made beforehand.

Under the new scheme, patients will continue to have their blood and other specimens drawn at Deep River and District Hospital but those samples will now be sent outside the community for testing at a central LifeLabs laboratory. Currently, the samples are tested on site at the hospital.

Provincial health costs will increase, and private sector will benefit

OPSEU/NUPGE and local health and medical providers have drawn attention to the fact that the move will increase costs to the province, at the same time that it is imposing an austerity agenda on public services.

OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas said the decision by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to outsource the lab work demonstrates the province has its priorities confused.

“We know there is a surplus capacity for this work at the Deep River hospital,” said Thomas. “But in typical fashion, the provincial government is force-feeding a so-called ‘remedy’ on local doctors and patients, which puts them at a disadvantage, all the while rewarding their pals in the private sector."

“This is just another example of what the Auditor General pointed out in her recent report," Thomas said. "Too many tax dollars are being stuffed in the pockets of the private sector when the evidence shows that public service workers can achieve the same results cheaper and fairer.”

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE