Largest union certification vote in union's 35-year history
Edmonton (15 Aug. 2008) - DynaLIFE Dx lab employees across the province have voted in favour of joining Alberta's most progressive health care union, the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE).
An overwhelming majority of the company's 750 employees voted yes to joining the nearly 17,000-member-strong health care union in a mail-in ballot conducted by the Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB). Votes were tabulated Aug. 13 at ALRB offices in Edmonton.
"We're extremely pleased by the outcome of today's ballot count, and look forward to getting down to the business of achieving an inaugural collective agreement for this long-deserving group of health care workers," says Lynette McAvoy, HSAA's director of labour relations.
Employees of the private health care lab company initially approached HSAA seeking union representation in April. An organizing drive was launched, which required a majority of DynaLIFE Dx employees to sign a petition asking the board to carry out a union certification vote.
"The resolve and persistence displayed by these health care professionals has been truly inspiring," adds Tony Jones, a labour relations officer with the HSAA, who worked closely with the DynaLIFE Dx employees throughout the campaign. "These employees will soon see the benefits of union representation that are currently being enjoyed by lab personnel employed by other companies throughout this sector."
The DynaLIFE Dx vote represents the largest union certification vote in the union's 35-year history. The private health-care company operates 27 medical laboratories throughout central and northern Alberta.
HSAA officials will meet with DynaLIFE Dx members in the coming weeks for preliminary talks in advance of preparing detailed bargaining proposals. Formal contract negotiations will be scheduled later. NUPGE
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