About 150 postal and mailroom employees working at LifeLabs in the Greater Toronto Area went on strike .

The workers, represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) , said they began their strike after negotiations failed to reach a settlement with the laboratory services company.

OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas said in a statement: "LifeLabs is one of the most profitable companies in Canada but will not pay its employees a living wage." "Even after the hard work and sacrifices made during the pandemic, LifeLabs sees no reason to pay its workers more."

The union pointed out that the average salary of a courier and mailroom worker in Toronto is $35,000 annually "while living in the most expensive city in Canada," and said these workers deserve a bigger share of the company's profits.

In an email to Canadian media sources, LifeLabs said it is "committed" to reaching a fair agreement, but the union left the negotiating table.

On the other hand, the company said: "LifeLabs is committed to working with our local partners at OPSEU to reach a fair agreement." 

We have been negotiating since May 2021; however, OPSEU left the negotiating table despite our competitive offers.

"We hope to reach a balanced agreement soon to continue supporting the needs of our employees and the communities they serve."

The union denied that its demands are unreasonable.

Mohamed Alawneh, head of the negotiating team, said in a statement, "We are not asking for much. "We are only asking for fair compensation so that we can provide enough for our families. Many of us work two or three jobs to put bread on the table."

It is not clear how long the strike may continue.

Meanwhile, LifeLabs said it has a business continuity plan that allows it to maintain courier and mailroom services "to minimize any impact of the disruption on patients and healthcare providers."

The company said last week in a statement on its website that its services will continue despite any strike.

On March 11, the company said: "LifeLabs will continue throughout any labor action," although there may be some disruption to our service levels, our goal is to provide Ontario residents with continuous access to services. We are taking all possible measures to minimize the impact of this strike on our services."

The company advised customers to check its website for any locations that may be affected by the picket and to contact them if they wish to reschedule.

Testing and diagnostic services have been at the forefront of public attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. LifeLabs currently offers a range of tests, including COVID-19 PCR and rapid antigen tests through a partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart.