Do medical laboratory professionals need a union to increase bargaining power and decrease pay disparities in comparison to other medical professionals?

A 2007 Question of the Month involved unions in labs. You can see the answers here: http://laboratorian.advanceweb.com/Article/We-Asked-You-Answered-24.aspx

I think it would be a good idea to present a united front to management.  I don't know if a union would ever catch on in the South, though.  Another option would be to consolidate all the various "registries" that certify laboratory professionals.

Honestly I don't think unions are the way to go at all, and belong nowhere near healthcare.  Look at the crappy nurses who get paid just as much as anybody else who do for crappy work.  I think though that it does take a civilized united front to stress to the hospital administration that without your skilled laboratorians, your hospital would not funtion.  We are a major income earner for hospitals, granted we are an unseen one, but hosptial could not function without their labs.  They use lab tests for 90 of their diagnostic information, I mean how can you ignore that.   If you can make a justified case for lets say higher wages, then the hospital cannot say no.  Of course with this you have to be willing to leave your current position if they do not meet your expectations.