We hope this message finds you well. We are writing to inform you about a significant development concerning LifeLabs which directly impacts you, your colleagues, and millions of people across the province and country.

We just learned that LifeLabs is being considered for sale by its owner, the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, or OMERS. While the details are still coming out, the potential buyer for this private sale includes both an American and a Canadian private equity firm. We understand that this news may bring uncertainty, especially as we are on the cusp of entering into bargaining negotiations.

We're here to tell you that your union has your back, and that LifeLabs might be for sale, but your rights aren't.

As your union, we want to assure you that we are deeply concerned about this potential sale and are monitoring it closely. Our foremost priority is to safeguard your interests, job security, and working conditions. We are committed to actively engaging in this process to protect your rights.

As we head into bargaining, you've made it loud and clear that your primary concerns include low wages and short staffing. We are going to keep fighting for you. And make no mistake: buyer or not, whoever owns LifeLabs can afford your bargaining demands.

Here are some details we know so far:

• OMERS has tried to put LifeLabs up for sale before, so it is possible that this deal will not happen. There is no guarantee a sale will be completed or that OMERS will find a buyer willing to pay what it deems an acceptable price for LifeLabs.

• Whether the buyer is a foreign or domestic entity, the sale could be subject to regulatory oversight via the Investment Canada Act and Competition Act. We will monitor this situation closely.
  
  

If needed, our union has the expertise to engage with OMERS, potential buyers and investors as well as relevant government and regulatory authorities to ensure that our collective voice is heard. In your last round of bargaining, we contacted the entire OMERS board when negotiations stalled at the bargaining table. This helped push the highest levels of the company to go back to the table to find a deal.

We understand that the lack of detailed information at this stage can be unsettling. Please know that we are doing everything in our power to gather more information about the timing and nature of this potential sale. We promise to keep you updated as soon as we have more concrete details.

This is a critical time for us, and unity is our strength. We encourage you to voice your concerns and stay engaged with the union. Thank you for your continued dedication and hard work. We will navigate these challenging times together as a united front. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

In solidarity,

Your LifeLabs Bargaining Committee

P.S. The prospect of this sale might raise further apprehensions about the future of our workplace and the quality of service we provide to millions of customers. But at the end of the day, your union will protect you. If you have colleagues who work in non-unionized sites who want to discuss unionizing their workplaces, please contact [email protected].

You can also read more about the potential sale here:

https://bnnbreaking.com/world/canada/omers-to-sell-canadas-largest-medical-testing-company-will-lifelabs-remain-in-canadian-hands/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-lifelabs-sale-omers/

UWU/MoveUP