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LCBO faces strike action
By Lauren BowesWorkers at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) are collectively bargaining as part of action organised by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).

In a vote, 86% of OPSEU members turned out, with 97% voting to strike.
The union has stated that workers will be in a legal strike position from 5 July.
“LCBO workers don’t want a dry summer, we love how busy it is and being a part of Ontarians’ celebrations,” said Colleen MacLeod, OPSEU’s liquor board employees division bargaining team chair. “But we can’t stand by while [premier] Doug Ford gives away the LCBO’s revenues to big-box and convenience chain CEOs. It’s on Ford and the LCBO to make sure that public services and good jobs don’t get left behind.”
The union’s demands include an expansion of public retail locations and in-house capacity for warehousing and logistics, as well as moving casual roles to permanent positions.
“We envision a future where the LCBO grows with Ontario,” said OPSEU president JP Hornick. “We could improve convenience by expanding public LCBO retail locations and hours. That would not only grow the LCBO’s revenues that pay for our healthcare and education, but also create good jobs in communities across our province.
“Ontarians have a choice. We don’t have to let Doug Ford hand the alcohol market over to big-box grocers and convenience chains like Loblaws and Circle K. We’ve had enough price-gouging from them already on food and necessities – we don’t need the price of booze to go up too.
“We can and we will fight for the LCBO and strong public services.”
The union has also claimed that LCBO is ‘fast-tracking the expansion of alcohol sales to help fast-track an election’.
The LCBO issued a statement following a conference with OPSEU, in which it refuted the union’s claims about current wage ranges and reiterated employee benefits.
It criticised the union’s general statements to LCBO’s bargaining team, claiming it “did not provide written proposals on these priorities, nor did it provide details of an ‘alternative model’ for beverage alcohol sales.” The firm added that the union was aware of the government’s plan to expand alcohol sales since December 2023.
On the topic of casual employees, LCBO said: “A letter of agreement between the parties guarantees at least 50% of LCBO’s more than 5,700 casual CSRs [customer service representatives] receive more than 1,000 hours of work each year.
“Casual employees receive 6% vacation pay after six months of service in addition to hourly rates of pay. Casual employees with five years of service and more than 1,300 hours worked in the previous year are entitled to benefits. Casuals may opt to receive pay in lieu of these benefits.
“All employees are eligible to participate in a defined-benefit pension plan. Overtime pay, shift premiums, and other allowances also apply to casual employees.”
The statement concluded: “As previously stated, we do not want a strike at the LCBO. OPSEU agreed to LCBO’s request for the appointment of a mediator, and we continue to meet the union at the bargaining table this week and have dates set to continue negotiations in July.”
The LCBO came under fire from trade body Spirits Canada last month after it applied a ‘punitive’ multi-million-dollar retroactive tax bill.
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