Lifelab assistant grateful for the values of union membership

Name: Rosario Viray

Occupation: Laboratory Assistant

Union: BCGEU

Rosario Viray has worked at LifeLabs for over 21 years. As one of the biggest labs handling medical testing, there’s a good chance you’ve relied on the work she and her colleagues do everyday. Rosario says on any given day she performs tests for between 30 to 50 patients. That’s a lot of people she’s helped over her time there.

“The best part of my job is resolving problems when it comes to dealing with patients,” she says. “Pretty much everyday we do problem solving.”

The problem solving she does everyday for patients in British Columbia mirrors the work of the BCGEU at her worksite. For Rosario, having a union in your corner is a powerful tool. “For me it’s coming up with resolutions to conflict and a better working place.” It’s a point she stresses to new Canadians and people that have never worked in a union environment before.

“Everyone enjoys Labour Day,” she says, “But I don’t think everyone knows what it’s there for, why it was created as a holiday.” Rosario stresses education to new Canadians and new union members. She knows a lot of people don’t know the history of the union movement and what unions have given to all workers in Canada, so she seeks to educate people where she can.

“The union is there as a tool, you can make use of it,” she says. “Maybe you don’t need it now, but in the future it might be helpful to you.”

For more information about joining BCGEU, call  604-882-0111 or visit www.bcgeu.ca.