Medical testing strike possible

By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Employees of Diagnostic Laboratory Services, one of the largest laboratories providing diagnostic services to doctors and hospitals in Hawai'i, yesterday authorized union leaders to call a strike if labor negotiations continue to be unsuccessful.

DLS performs 80 percent of the medical testing procedures on O'ahu.

"Two-thirds of those who voted voted to strike," said Mel Kahele, president of Hawai'i Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996.

About 60 percent of the 86 employees represented by the union voted, Kahele said.

Kahele said union leaders decided to ask for the strike vote after 23 months of negotiations with DLS management had failed to bring them closer to a contract.

Alika McGuire, a labor relations consultant representing DLS in the negotiations, said he had not yet received official notification of the strike vote yesterday evening and would not comment on it.

"DLS has been actively negotiating with the union to reach a fair agreement," McGuire said.

McGuire denied accusations by Kahele and other union officials that DLS management had been threatening employees with the loss of their jobs if they strike.

"The company is not doing that," he said. "It adamantly denies that."

Patrick Watarai, a Teamsters employee who was formerly employed by DLS, said workers are frustrated that negotiations have not moved forward. DLS managers do not appear to be bargaining in good faith, he said.

Watarai said he was one of three employees who helped to unionize DLS. All three have lost their jobs since that time, he said.

Lab assistants, medical technologist and medical lab technicians employed by DLS on O'ahu unionized for the first time just over two year ago. DLS couriers are also represented by the Hawai'i Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996.

Reach Karen Blakeman at 535-2430 or at kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.