LCBO and union reach preliminary agreement to end two-week strike

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TORONTO – The Liquor Control Board of Ontario and the union representing 10,000 of its workers agreed to a tentative collective agreement Friday to end a two-week strike.

The LCBO said in a statement that if the tentative agreement is ratified, the strike will end at 12:01 a.m. on Monday and that the retailer plans to reopen its stores on Tuesday.

“We look forward to welcoming our unionized employees back to serve the people of Ontario,” the LCBO wrote in its statement. “We recognize the disruption the strike has caused to our employees, partners and customers who rely on our services and thank everyone for their continued patience and understanding as we begin to resume regular operations.”

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Workers represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union walked out on July 5, and negotiations resumed Wednesday morning.

No details were immediately available on the terms of the deal, but OPSEU has said the dispute revolves primarily around Premier Doug Ford’s plan to allow convenience stores and grocery stores to sell ready-to-drink cocktails. The union has said expanded sales of ready-to-drink beverages will put their jobs at risk.

The LCBO had said this was not a matter for negotiation. The last offer it made public included wage increases of seven percent over three years, a special adjustment for certain warehouse positions, improved access to benefits for casual workers, the conversion of around 400 casual workers to full-time positions and improved severance arrangements.

Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy expressed his delight at the preliminary agreement reached by both sides.

“This is a good deal for workers and welcome news for Ontarians,” he wrote in a statement. “We look forward to working together to provide choice and convenience across Ontario.”

The union has not yet commented and has only stated that a preliminary agreement has been reached.

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