LCBO strike: Union says collective bargaining has failed

Thousands of workers at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) are expected to walk off the job on Friday as the union says “talks have broken down” and there is no hope that an agreement can be reached to avert a strike.

“LCBO workers are ready to make history. Tonight marks the start of (Prime Minister Doug) Ford’s dry summer. More than 9,000 LCBO workers will go on strike at 12:01 a.m.,” Colleen MacLeod, chair of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) bargaining team, told reporters at a news conference Thursday evening.

“We have made it very clear that we will not let up in our fight for a strong future for the LCBO and the public services funded by LCBO revenues.”

The potential strike would be the first in the state-owned company’s history. The LCBO has said that all 685 stores would remain closed for two weeks if the strike continues.

If workers are still on strike on July 19, only 30 LCBO stores nationwide will be open for in-store shopping. However, they will only be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and will have “restricted hours.”

“We understand that a strike is disruptive. We encourage anyone who is frustrated to call Ford and tell him not to ruin the summer and to come back to the LCBO bargaining table with a serious commitment to a strong future for the LCBO,” MacLeod said.

“We are sure that if we had negotiated with our employer rather than with the Prime Minister, we would have reached an agreement. Then this strike could have been avoided.”

The focus of the talks was the Ford government’s expansion of alcohol sales to convenience stores. The union said it was not opposed to the policy, but at the same time the province gave no guarantees that the LCBO and its employees would not be affected by the expansion.

“We see this as an existential crisis for the LCBO,” said OPSEU President JP Hornick. “Do we want to have a public alcohol provider like we’ve had for 100 years? Or are we just moving to a private Wild West model?”

When asked if Ontario residents should prepare for a long strike, MacLeod said, “It’s because of Doug. This is Doug’s dry summer.”

“Everyone must understand that this is about our future and our jobs,” she added.

LCBO, government reacts

In response to OPSEU’s press conference, the state-owned company called on the union to oppose its latest offer and “work with us” to reach an agreement and avoid a strike.

The LCBO said the offer was presented to the union at 4:20 p.m. and that it believes it meets several demands, including job security and wage increases.

The offer would include the conversion of 400 casual employees to full-time positions, improved access to benefits for part-time casual workers, and improvements to terms and agreements limiting LCBO convenience outlets and restricting contracting, as well as increasing the volume of product in outlets supplied by warehouses.

“We have also invited OPSEU to discuss with us any other issues that could be addressed in the collective agreement, including job security. We have also asked OPSEU to submit a counter-proposal,” the state-owned company said in its statement. “So far, they have refused to object and instead held a press conference criticising the government’s plans to sell RTD (ready-to-drink) drinks in convenience stores and grocery stores.”

The LCBO reiterated that its warehouses would remain operational during the strike and said it had solid contingency plans in place that would allow it to accept and fulfill wholesale orders.

“We have implemented measures in our inventory build, warehouse operations and order fulfillment approach that recognize the importance of alcoholic beverage availability to our wholesale business, particularly during the busy summer months. Our priority is to ensure continued service and support to our valued customers,” the LCBO said.

The province expressed its disappointment at the union’s decision to leave the bargaining table before the deadline and called on representatives to return to the bargaining table.

“We are particularly disappointed that OPSEU is opposed to allowing Ontarians to purchase ready-to-use beverages such as coolers and seltzer in grocery and convenience stores,” said a statement from Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario’s finance minister.

“In the meantime, we encourage people across Ontario to take advantage of the thousands of options available, including local breweries, wineries, cider producers, distilleries, restaurants, bars, LCBO convenience stores, grocery stores and The Beer Store.”

The LCBO noted that during the potential strike, customers will still be able to purchase alcohol online through its website and mobile app and have it delivered to their homes for free, but warned that an appropriate cap on the products will be put in place.