LCBO strike ends Monday after workers ratify tentative agreement

Striking liquor retailers voted on Sunday to ratify a tentative agreement between the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) and their union.

The ratification means the first strike at the province’s state-owned company will officially end shortly after midnight on Monday – just over two weeks after it began. The LCBO plans to reopen all closed retail stores on Tuesday.

“LCBO is pleased that the renewed collective agreement has been ratified by employees,” the LCBO said in a statement.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) said in its own statement that the new three-year contract contains “significant improvements” over the LCBO’s last offer made the day before the strike began.

“We went on strike to protect good jobs and public revenues and to fight for more permanent jobs with benefits and guaranteed working hours,” said Colleen MacLeod, chair of the OPSEU bargaining team.

“Our members stood firm. They took a clear line, talked to their communities – and they won.”

Approximately 10,000 LCBO workers represented by OPSEU walked off the job on July 5, resulting in the closure of hundreds of LCBO retail stores across Ontario and limiting the availability of certain alcohol products.

WATCH: Ontario accelerates plan to sell ready-to-drink beverages in grocery and convenience stores:

Ontario accelerates plan to sell ready-to-drink beverages in grocery and convenience stores

The Ontario government announced Monday that it is accelerating plans to bring ready-to-drink cocktails and larger beer packs to some supermarkets. This comes as about 9,000 LCBO union members continue to strike.

Union leaders portrayed the strike as a principled stand to secure the future of the LCBO and the jobs of its workers, which they said were threatened by the Ontario government’s decision to allow the sale of wine, beer and ready-to-drink cocktails in convenience stores and grocery stores.

They argued that expanding alcohol sales to private retailers would reduce the LCBO’s revenue, reduce the more than $2 billion it generates annually in dividends for the state treasury, and could result in thousands of jobs being lost within a few years.

The LCBO stated that this political issue could not be resolved at the negotiating table.

During the strike, Premier Doug Ford stepped up the expansion of alcohol sales, allowing grocery stores that already have a license to sell beer and wine to also sell ready-to-drink cocktail drinks starting Thursday. The initial launch of this move was scheduled for August 1.

Collective agreement increases wages, converts casual workers into permanent employees

According to the LCBO, the agreement provides for wage increases of eight percent over three years, an additional 7.8 percent for the lowest-paid workers and a special wage adjustment for certain trade positions in the warehouses.

It requires the employer to convert 1,000 casual workers into part-time workers, to hire 60 full-time workers in its warehouse operations and to provide improved access to benefits to casual workers who work 1,300 or 1,000 hours respectively.

The law also provides for improved mental health benefits and severance pay arrangements, the state-owned company said.

The LCBO said the signed agreement “does not provide for any retail store closures related to the market expansion during the term of the collective agreement.” A non-binding joint union-management committee will decide how best to implement the market plans.

The union celebrated these successes.

“In my 27 years at the LCBO, the employer has continually transitioned the workforce to casualization, so that people had no guaranteed hours, no benefits and no hope of permanent employment. Permanent part-time work has almost died out,” MacLeod said.

“I am extremely proud that we fought back and won these permanent jobs. This will improve the lives of workers and their families for many years to come.”

The LCBO said it is welcoming back its employees and is focused on returning to normal operations to support retail and wholesale customers and Ontario’s alcoholic beverage industry.

“We thank our customers for their understanding and patience as we make the necessary adjustments to return to the level of service we expect,” the statement said.