Barrie firefighters and city police were called in due to picket-line complaints this morning as local lab technicians continue their strike for better pay and benefits at LifeLabs locations in Barrie and beyond.
Approximately 90 LifeLabs employees, who are members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 389, have been on strike since last Friday in Simcoe County against what they say are unfair pay and benefit packages. (Click here to read a story about the strike in Orillia.)
Striking employees in Barrie have been assembling in the parking lot of the LifeLabs building on Wellington Street near the city’s downtown, along with other lab locations in the city, where they are holding picket signs and banners in support of their demands.
Renee Aiken Kearsley, president of Local 389 for the Simcoe County workers of LifeLabs, said on Monday morning that their employer called the fire department on them to extinguish their burn barrels they have on site.
“They had the burn barrel set up as the mornings are pretty cold and we are here at 6 a.m.,” she said. “They are just trying to stay a little warm and we understand everybody needs to be safe. The fire department came and there were no issues."
Aiken Kearsley said the firefighters gave them buckets for water use, to be safe.
“Everybody was respectful,” she said. “The (fire crew) went on their way and that was it.”
She said Barrie Fire and Emergency Service (BFES) received a burn complaint, which they believe was called in by the employer.
“But that’s OK. We’re expecting that, you know," Aiken Kearsley said.
A reporter reached out to LifeLabs this morning for comment, but officials had not responded as of the time of publication.
Barrie Fire confirmed they had received a call at 6:40 a.m. on May 6 for a barrel fire on the sidewalk.
Deputy Chief Carrie Clark said the crew spoke with the people on the scene as an 'education session' and they put the fire out.
“They were going to look at alternate ways to stay warm that did not involve a barrel,” she added.
Aiken Kearsley said police were also called, after a complaint that they were obstructing the business and not running their strike line properly.
“The police have come and said everything looks good, so we are still here and talking to patients and letting everybody know (our situation)," she added. “We did pull back from where we were talking to people, slowing down people and just giving them flyers.
“(Police) just wanted us to pull it in a little bit just so that they could get a few more cars in,” added Aiken Kearsley, which she said they later agreed to do.
Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon said they received a call this morning to the Quarry Ridge Road lab location and they “continue to liaise where and when necessary, and advising them of the protocols that are in place when there is strike-related activity.”
He said there are no issues or concerns with the picket lines.
According to the union, talks have stalled and they have not heard from the company since the strike began.
There are labs in Barrie, Orillia, Wasaga Beach, CFB Borden and other areas in Simcoe County.
Aiken Kearsley noted there is also a plan to take their fight to the LifeLabs headquarters in Toronto.
“We will probably be going down to have a picket line at the employer’s head office one day this week, and gather more OPSEU workers to ensure we have the support," she said.
As the labour fight continues between the union and LifeLabs, Ministry of Health officials said they had no information to share and they have been assured by the company that patients will not be impacted by the disruption.
"The ministry does not comment on ongoing negotiations,” Hannah Jensen, spokesperson for the Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, told BarrieToday late Friday. “LifeLabs has ensured the ministry that services will continue to be available for residents in the Simcoe region."
