Here’s why you probably shouldn’t worry about an LCBO strike in Ontario

If you are tempted to stock up on alcohol before the fast-approaching date when LCBO staff May strike, then chances are pretty high that you actually don’t have to worry.

The union representing the 10,000 affected employees of the Crown Group had set a deadline of July 5 after 97 percent of members voted in favor of a strike if no agreement could be reached at the negotiating table. However, such a labor dispute would be the first in the chain’s almost 100-year history and is therefore quite unlikely.

My mother said there would be no strike. She said the LCBO was in the perfect position to get all their demands met before Canada Day.

— ICHIBAN BABY (@DemiCaruso) 24 June 2017

The LCBO has had a number of near-strikes in which employees also voted to close stores, including most recently in 2017. However, all of these strikes were averted at the last minute by agreements being reached between both sides before any impact on consumers occurred.

It is true that many integral factors are different this time, including the leadership of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the fact that more union members appear to be on strike in Canada than ever before.

However, both sides remain hopeful for a solution rather than a strike, seeing it as a last resort. Moreover, a work stoppage could ultimately have the opposite effect to what the union wants, as more and more retailers will sell alcohol and consumers will have a much wider choice of where to shop.

This only reinforces the fact that LCBO management only uses strike talk to boost sales. Of course, the media has fueled this every bargaining year by creating panic about a possible strike. Every single time, this happens and they never strike.

— Peel workers injured (@PeelIWG) 20 June 2024

As OPSEU wrote in its most recent update on the issue, “in most cases, as the clock ticks toward a strike date, both parties feel strongly motivated to negotiate seriously. We currently have bargaining dates scheduled for the week of June 17 and July 1.”

Just in case the LCBOs do indeed close their doors next month, here’s a list of places where you can get wine, beer, bottled water, and more.