Manitoba Liquor Mart workers to walk out for 1 day next week over stalled contract negotiations

Workers at Manitoba Liquor Marts across the province will walk off the job for a day next week as contract negotiations with Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries have stalled, union leaders say.

Effective 7 a.m. on Wednesday, as many as 1,400 Manitoba Government and General Employees' Unionmembers at the publicly run liquor stores will take strike action.

The action will include union members whowork in the liquor distribution centre and those in supporting business operations likeinformation technology, purchasing and administration, the union said in a news release on Friday.

Union members voted to start their strike action with a walkout after the employer, a Crown corporation,came back with a final offer that wasn't "fair or realistic,"MGEU president Kyle Ross said at a Friday news conference.

"Our goal is not to punish Manitobans for the situation they've been put in by the management and leadership at [Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries] and theprovincial government," he said.

"We will find ways to to increase the pressure and do what we have to to get a fair deal. It's really unfortunate that we're put inthis situation."'

A big sticking point is wages, Ross said.

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries offered a four-year contract with a two per cent wage increase in each year, with additional bumps to ensure those at the bottom end of the pay scalegetlegislated minimum wage increases.

Those increases don't go far enough, said Ross.

"That's not even close to what's needed, with the soaring cost of living and to catch up with the ground loston our last contract," he said, referring toa collective agreement that expired in 2022.

"It certainly won't help retain workers who are leaving for better pay at places like Walmart and Sobeys."

After the one-day walkout, workers will refuse all overtime, and further strike actions will be announced if a deal cannot be reached, Ross said.

Manitoba Liquor & Lotterieshas contingency plans in place for Wednesday's walkout,aspokesperson for the Crown corporationin an email Friday afternoon.

The spokesperson also saidManitoba Liquor & Lotteries is committed to returning to the table and negotiating with the union.

A government spokesperson saidin an email Friday the province is urgingboth sides to remain at the bargaining table.