Equal Pay Dispute at Kitchener Hospitals
Lab workers across Kitchener hospitals are demanding equal pay after the merger of Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital created new wage gaps. Employees say they perform the same work, yet some staff are paid significantly more, leaving many frustrated and undervalued.
Why Workers Are Protesting
On Wednesday, unionized lab employees rallied outside the Waterloo Regional Health Network’s Midtown site, formerly Grand River Hospital. Their message was clear: equal work deserves equal pay.
The dispute began when non-unionized staff at the Queen’s Blvd. site, once St. Mary’s Hospital, received a cost-of-living raise of up to $7 an hour. Unionized staff at Midtown, however, were left out of the increase.
“It is the exact same job,” said Trina Bueckert, a senior medical lab technician. “We are doing the exact same job as them.”
Stories From Inside the Labs
For some, the wage difference cuts deeper than numbers. Amberley Berman, a medical lab technologist, said she was forced to choose between the two hospitals after the merger.
“I had to quit one of the hospitals to stay employed,” she explained. “I lost eight years of seniority and took a pay cut, only to find out my former colleagues now make more than me.”
Despite the setback, Berman said she continues because she loves her department and the work she does. Still, the wage gap weighs heavily on staff morale.
Union Leaders Speak Out
Union leaders argue that management’s decision is dividing workers unnecessarily.
“If both parties are doing the same job, I don’t understand where you create a divide,” said Peter Figliola, OPSEU’s regional vice-president. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
Many employees believe cost-of-living increases should apply equally, no matter their union status. “We’re all paying for groceries, mortgages, and rent,” Bueckert added. “We deserve fairness.”
Hospital Responds With Statement
When asked to comment, the Waterloo Regional Health Network declined an interview. Instead, they issued a written statement, though details were limited. For now, the gap remains, and employees say their fight is far from over.
