LifeLabs and the union reach an interim agreement, avoiding new labor actions | The Canadian News

LifeLabs and its unionized workers have reached a tentative three-year contract, less than 48 hours after the union entered a legal strike position.

The BC General Employees Union began labor action Saturday consisting of an overtime ban and a labor drive to govern.

The two sides returned to the negotiating table Saturday night and LifeLabs confirmed the deal on Sunday, the details of which have yet to be revealed.

The union says the agreement will be presented to members on Monday, who will still have to vote to ratify it.

The BCGEU says the overtime ban and the work-to-govern campaign will be suspended until members vote.

According to the union, wages and benefits were the key points in the dispute.

The BCGEU represents about 1,550 LifeLabs employees, which it says have been without a contract since March.

LifeLabs is the largest provider of medical laboratory services in the province and was deemed an essential service by the BC Labor Relations Board as the contract dispute escalated.

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