Windsor-Essex LCBO stores closed in first workers’ strike

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Thousands of liquor store employees in Ontario are on strike after collective bargaining between their union and the LCBO failed.

Leaders of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), which represents workers, blamed Premier Doug Ford for the strike. Negotiations broke down late Thursday night, prompting more than 9,000 workers to go on strike at 12:01 a.m. Friday.

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“Doug Ford wants to improve the lives of his wealthy friends,” OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick said in a statement.

“That’s why he’s wasting over a billion dollars of our money to drive private alcohol sales and give a larger share of the public revenue generated by the LCBO to CEOs and large grocery and convenience chains like Loblaws and Circle K.”

All shops are now closed for two weeks.

“We told Ford not to ruin everyone’s summer, but now he has closed the science centre and given Ontarians a dry summer by refusing to offer a deal that would be good for LCBO workers and Ontario,” Hornick said.

Should the strike last longer than two weeks, the LCBO will open a limited number of stores with reduced hours three days a week on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Information on store locations and hours will be released at a later date.

“We have argued that we are expanding the LCBO to meet demand and increase convenience by opening more stores, extending opening hours and increasing warehousing, logistics and e-commerce capacity,” the LCBO statement said.

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“This will also increase public revenue through increased LCBO sales, which will help fund our public services such as health care and education, as well as critical infrastructure.”

On its website, the LCBO expressed disappointment that the union “has initiated a strike – the first in our long history in Ontario.

“We have plans in place to minimize disruption as much as possible and ensure our products remain available to our valued retail and wholesale customers,” the company said in a statement.

“We will continue our business operations, but it is not business as usual.”

The LCBO website and mobile app will continue to accept orders for free home delivery during the strike.

The approximately 2,300 private retail outlets across the province will not be affected by the strike. These include licensed grocery stores, the Beer Store, wineries, breweries and distilleries, as well as bars and restaurants.

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