Health workers launch job action

24 Hours Vancouver

By CHRIS CAMPBELL, 24 HOURS

LABOUR Metro Vancouver patients can expect to wait longer for CT scans and MRIs as the Health Sciences Association announced rotating strikes for Thursday and Friday.

Medical imaging technologists will be operating at essential-service levels from midnight Thursday to midnight Friday, except those at Surrey Memorial Hospital.

"There may be additional waits," said union president Reid Johnson, adding the system is already bogged down by long wait times due to staff shortages.

Public health inspectors, who handle such areas as restaurants and child-care centres, will reduce services on the same schedule as technologists. Hospital pharmacists will operate at essential-service levels from 9 a.m. to midnight on Thursday.