Some Windsor residents were surprised on the first day of the LCBO workers’ strike

When people tried to buy alcohol in Windsor on Friday, they were surprised to find that the doors of the LCBO stores were closed.

A steady stream of potential buyers approached the doors of the LCBO store in downtown Windsor, peered through, and then walked away.

Oghenekevwe Udusegbe said he hoped to “get some vodka, maybe a Smirnoff” to enjoy the weekend.

It was the second store he visited and he found that it was not open.

“I just go home and drink some juice,” he said, adding that he would rather pick up his liquor himself and not use the delivery option.

More than 9,000 LCBO employees in Ontario are on strike after collective bargaining between their union, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), and the employer failed.

“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,” said Colleen MacLeod, chair of the LCBO Employees Union Section, Alcohol Committee and Negotiating Team.

Workers want pay increases, more full-time positions and language in the collective agreement that protects existing jobs and the future of the LCBO. According to the union, 70 percent of the LCBO workforce is part-time.

Tayo Adegeite was also surprised when he heard about the strike

Like Udusegbe, Adegeite said he was not interested in the delivery option offered by the store.

“I know they mostly do deliveries, but it’s always best to come in person to get what you want because most of the time you might see something online but it might not be the same when you come to the store to pick it up yourself,” he said.

‘It’s unfortunate’

Danielle Moldovan, director of marketing and new business at Wolfhead Distillery and Restaurant, says the strike will mean “huge loss of revenue” for them at the start of summer.

“For Wolfhead itself, this probably represents a gross loss of about $100,000 in sales through the LCBO, so the longer this goes on, the higher that number will be,” Moldovan told CBC News.

She said the figures are based on sales over the past three weeks, taking weekend sales into account, adding that “summer is a really busy time” for the distillery.

“It’s unfortunate. We all go to the LCBO, that’s a place where everyone can breathe a sigh of relief, and we just hope they find a quick solution, especially because it’s a very busy time for everyone,” Moldovan said.

However, she said the distillery has already seen an increase in online orders and is therefore encouraging people to come to its open store.

Not overly concerned

Spencer Chappus, assistant manager at Sam’s Pizza, said they had been preparing for the strike.

“We’ve stocked up on a lot of different types of alcohol, but for the most part we’re more of a restaurant-cafeteria serving beer and tap,” he said.

“So we’re not too worried. We’re not a big liquor store… so I think what we have in stock will serve us well. We’ve got plenty of Jameson, plenty of vodka for our Caesars and I think we should be fine.”

Local LCBO picket workers declined to comment.

On its website, the LCBO said the strike meant stores would not be “business as usual” and all of its stores would be closed for two weeks. If an agreement is reached within the 14-day closure period, it will “reopen stores and resume normal operations as soon as possible,” it said.

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

If the strike lasts longer than two weeks, the LCBO says it will open 32 stores with limited hours three days a week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

The LCBO, a retailer and wholesaler of wine, beer and spirits in Ontario, has more than 680 retail stores, 389 convenience stores and 18,000 wholesale restaurant and bar customers.