Thousands of LCBO Workers Go on Strike After Breakdown in Talks
Thousands of Ontario liquor store employees walked off the job early Friday morning after contract negotiations between their union and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) collapsed. The strike marks a historic moment as it’s the first time the provincial Crown corporation has faced such an action.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), representing over 9,000 workers, set a strike deadline for 12:01 a.m. on Friday. When talks failed to yield an agreement, the workers officially began their strike, prompting closures of all LCBO retail locations for an initial two-week period. The LCBO’s website and mobile app will still process orders for home delivery during the strike.
Union Demands and Government Response
OPSEU’s demands include wage increases, more full-time positions, and protections for current jobs and the future of the LCBO. Currently, part-time positions constitute 70 percent of the LCBO workforce. OPSEU president J.P. Hornick emphasized the union’s readiness for a prolonged strike, stating, “We have a very healthy strike fund… and we can weather a strike as long as necessary.”
Colleen MacLeod, chair of OPSEU’s liquor board employees division bargaining team, laid the blame squarely on Ontario Premier Doug Ford. “Doug Ford just wants to make life better for his wealthy friends,” MacLeod said, criticizing the Premier’s efforts to privatize alcohol sales, which she argues could cost thousands of jobs and millions in public revenues.
The LCBO has accused the union of striking over demands that the government halt the sale of ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, such as coolers and seltzers, in convenience and grocery stores. Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy’s office expressed disappointment over the union’s decision to walk away from negotiations, urging OPSEU to return to the table.
Impact and Reactions
The strike is expected to disrupt the availability of various alcoholic beverages, particularly wine and spirits, with LCBO’s extensive network of over 680 retail stores and 389 convenience outlets affected. If the strike extends beyond two weeks, the LCBO plans to open 32 stores on a limited schedule of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles criticized the provincial government for not doing enough to avert the strike. “The government should have been at the table until the wee hours trying to get a deal that respects workers and ensures that consumers have access to the LCBO,” Stiles said, noting that no one wanted the strike to happen.
As the strike unfolds, it highlights the ongoing tensions between government policies, public services, and labor rights. The outcome of this labor dispute will be closely watched, not only by those directly affected but also by other public sector unions and employers across the province.