Strike at Ottawa medical manufacturer has no end in sight, pickets say

A strike at an Ottawa medical equipment manufacturer has no end in sight, according to workers who walked off the job more than two months ago.

About 60 members of two unions — the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and UNIFOR — downed tools at Kanata-based Best Theratronics Ltd. on May 1.

The workers have been without a contract since 2023, and say the company is showing little willingness to negotiate. 

Dale Rath, a packing mechanic and captain of one of the strike teams, said employees want to return to the bargaining table, but talks have broken down. 

"We're getting nothing. Of my understanding, the legal team is getting nothing," he said from a rainy picket line on Thursday. "There's just been no replies from the owner."

The company builds radiation equipment and medical devices for beam and X-ray therapies. 

Pickets blocking vehicles

Rath said despite the lack of progress, the striking workers remain a "tight family." Pickets are periodically blocking vehicles from entering the company's parking lot, and delaying deliveries and visitors from entering the building itself.

"We're not backing down. We're tired of being bullied by [the owner]," Rath said. "It's time that somebody stands up to him, and that's what we're doing."

PSAC member Mark Booth agreed that workers want to hear from the company.

"We'd like to have some form of communication and try to have some sort of resolution of a contract ... so we can all go back to work," he said. "You know, there's people here that use these products daily around the world."

Neither the company nor its owner responded to requests for comment Thursday, either about the job action or its impact on business.

"Before we even talk about [pay] increases and stuff like that, you need to have communication and talk to us," Booth said.