(THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)
WINNIPEG — The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals has set a strike deadline for 7,000 allied health professionals across the province.
The MAHCP cited ongoing contract delays and staffing shortages. Job action is scheduled to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, March 7, unless a new agreement is reached.
MAHCP members, who have been without a contract for 11 months, include professionals in diagnostic imaging, physiotherapy, midwifery, lab services, and more. The union warns that a strike could lead to significant delays in non-emergency surgeries, lab tests, cancer treatments, rehabilitation services, and home care.
“A strike is the last resort for our members, but their workloads are still growing and more than 1,000 allied health positions are vacant,” said MAHCP president Jason Linklater. “Allied health needs a strong and competitive contract to keep specialized professionals in Manitoba and recruit more.”
While essential services agreements are in place to maintain minimum staffing levels, MAHCP says continued worker shortages have already contributed to rising wait times for key health services. A recent union survey found that nearly half of members reported staff losses in 2024, while three in five said workloads had increased, and morale had declined.
The union says it remains open to further negotiations to avoid a strike. In January, 96 percent of MAHCP members voted in favour of job action if an agreement could not be reached.
