Laboratory workers are exhausted as they process record numbers of Covid-19 tests.

More than 700 medical laboratory workers are walking off the job in a fortnight.

It comes after continued refusal by employers to offer fair pay rates.

APEX union members who work at laboratories in New Plymouth, Gisborne, Hutt, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Queenstown, and Invercargill will take part in the strike action.

APEX Laboratory national advocate David Munro says issues have been bubbling up before the pandemic.

He says now, lab workers are under a lot of pressure with the influx of Covid-19 tests.

"These employees have been working hard, and their bosses are only bringing small pay offers to the table - which is why they're going on strike."

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