Strike Postponed (March 7 @ 11am)

The allied health strike that was to start early today has been postponed, as a tentative agreement has been reached by both sides. This means the strike and work stoppage planned for allied health workers has been averted. 

Shared Health has reported that some disruption may still occur in areas where postponements or schedule changes were made in anticipation of a work stoppage. This could mean some canceled appointments, tests or procedures are rescheduled ​“over the coming days” with adjustments to schedules and notifications.

This would have been the first health care strike in over 30 years. Instead, it is anticipated that workers are attending work today as normally scheduled, hopefully avoiding any impact to patient services.

Update: 4:30PM on March 6

A major strike is set to start at midnight tonight (12:01am on March 7) involving over 7,000 allied health workers represented by the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals (MAHCP).

If the strike goes ahead, it could impact a variety of services that rely on allied health professionals, including diagnostic testing, surgeries, and other services. An essential services agreement is in place to protect urgent/​emergent services, but it’s likely elective procedures would be affected. We have been informed unofficially that 800 surgeries could be canceled as a start, and an unknown number of diagnostic testing. 

Physicians who work in RHA health facilities are encouraged to closely monitor for updates about potential impacts to their work.

Doctors Manitoba will post updates here, along with our social media. We are connected into the Shared Health response to help identify concerns. Members with unresolved concerns should contact us directly at practiceadvice@​doctorsmanitoba.​ca.

Shared Health has included the latest Provincial Work Stoppage Information here.

POTENTIAL SERVICE IMPACTS

Shared health has advised that the following ​“will see impacts”:

• Shared Health services that are provincial and offered in all Regional Health Authorities such as Diagnostic Services and Emergency Response Services will see impacts.
• Diagnostic services for ambulatory care patients may be served at reduced capacity. Existing Diagnostic Services appointments will continue as usual however patients may experience delays while waiting for their appointment. Ambulatory care patients may be served at reduced capacity.
• Non-urgent professional services for patients in hospital such as Audiology, Occupational Therapy, and Physiotherapy will be impacted.
• Patients seeking mental health services can expect longer wait times during the strike. Community-based services at Eden Mental Health in Southern Health-Sante-Sud are impacted by staffing reductions.
• Low acuity rural patient transports may be impacted as staff prioritize primary response calls.
• All CancerCare treatment and appointments, including screening, will continue but with reduced staff, therefore, patients may experience some delays. Patients are encouraged to plan extra time for their visit.

Not impacted:

• Diagnostic Services for hospital-based patients (emergency, surgery, inpatients) and personal care home/long-term care patients will continue. Ambulatory care patients may be served at reduced capacity.
• All mental health and addiction services remain fully operational, including the Crisis Response Centre and all Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinics. Community-based services will continue with staff prioritizing the most urgent cases first.
• Emergency Response Services including Emergency Medical Services in rural Manitoba, specialized services, patient transport and coordination will continue with a focus on ensuring EMS personnel are strategically deployed to maintain service to rural communities.

SUPPORTING YOUR COLLEAGUES

• If you want to show support for your allied colleagues, check with them or their union on how to show your support. 
• If you have moral concerns about crossing the picket line, consider ways of showing your support as you enter the health facility. You could go early, talk to workers, walk with them, or bring snacks. Health facilities provide essential services so access can’t be blocked, and you likely offer essential care that must continue. 
  
• If asked to do work normally done by a striking support worker, consider if it is essential to patient care or your work. However, if you didn’t do this work before the strike, you likely aren’t required to do it now and should raise the issue with the appropriate manager. 

BACKGROUND

MAHCP members are allied healthcare professionals practicing across Manitoba. The more than 7,000 MAHCP members are now in a legal strike position. Their contract expired in March, 2024 and 96% of MAHCP members voted in favour of a strike mandate in January of this year.

THE BIG PICTURE: MAHCP members are employed in every health authority in Manitoba, in virtually every hospital, community health facility, public PCH, and laboratory. MAHCP members include audiologists, community health workers, dieticians, OTs, PTs, paramedics, pharmacists, social workers, and a wide range of technologists and technicians, among others.

THE BOTTOM LINE: MAHCP members are governed by an Essential Services Agreement, which requires workers to remain on the job​“to the extent necessary to prevent a threat to the health, safety or welfare of residents of Manitoba” if there is a strike. While this will generally protect emergent and urgent care and procedures, a strike could result in the delay or cancellation of elective procedures and longer wait times for diagnostic imaging and other tests and results.

Doctors Manitoba is hopeful that MAHCP and Manitoba Health will negotiate a new agreement without a strike. Allied healthcare professionals are important partners in providing care to Manitobans.

WHAT’S NEXT: Doctors Manitoba will keep this page updated with the latest and are here to help members with their questions about the job action.

HOW IS IT AFFECTING YOU: We want to hear from physicians concerned about, or affected by this potential strike. Is it affecting the services you provide to your patients? Let us know by emailing practiceadvice@​doctorsmanitoba.​ca.