1st day of LCBO workers' strike underway with stores closed

Ontario liquor store employees hit the picket linesFriday for the first-ever strike in the Crown corporation's history, with LCBO stores expected to be closed for the next two weeks.

Striking workers gathered outside closedLCBO stores across the province, carryingsigns and chanting slogans.

Natasha St. John, who was picketing in north Toronto, said she's on strike to protect good-paying jobs that allow LCBO workers to support their families.

"We really don't want Ontario to have a dry summer, but we're willing to give up a couple weeks if it means we get to secure our jobs for a few more years," St. John said.

More than 9,000 workers walked off the job just after midnight Friday following a breakdown in negotiations between the LCBO andOntario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)that failed to produce a new contract.

'We want to be working,' says employee

The workers are seeking wage increases and more full-time jobs, saying part-time andcasualroles have become 70 per cent of their workforce. The union also opposes part of theprovince'splanto open up the alcohol marketto allow convenience stores and all grocery stores to sell beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails, such as White Claws.

St. John said she's workedfor the past six years as a casuala class of employee whose workhours aren't always guaranteed and who arepaid on a lower pay scale than permanent, full-time employees.

WATCH | Union leaders calls Ford a 'ghost' at the bargaining table:

LCBO workers on strike call Ford a ghost at the bargaining table

2 months ago

Duration 1:13

LCBO workers across the province hit the picket lines on Friday after talks between the Crown corporation and its employees broke down just hours before the deadline. Representatives blamed Doug Ford's government for the breakdown, expressing concern that thousands of jobs would be lost due to the governments expansion plans for alcohol sales. Bargaining chair Colleen MacLeod described the premier as a ghost at the bargaining table.

Many casual employees have to work two jobs to make a living, St. John said, and some have to work for five to 10 years before transitioning to a permanent position.

"As much fun as we're having out here, just because of who we are, we don't want to be out here. We want to be back in our stores. We want tobe working," said St. John.

Private sales will hurt revenue for public services: union

Union leaders say themain sticking point in negotiations is theexpansion of alcohol sales, particularly in the fast-growing sector of ready-to-drink cocktails.

They argue the move will eat into the $2.5 billion the LCBO contributesannually to provincial coffers, lead to job losses and store closures, and transfer money that could be used for public services such as health care and educationto private corporations.

"We know that Ontario values the LCBO and we cannot trade that off for our profits, Ontario's profits,to go into the hands of large CEO[s], grocers, billionaires and Doug Ford's friends," Colleen MacLeod, chair of OPSEU's bargaining committee, said at a picket line in downtown Toronto Friday.

A previous alcohol sales expansion under the former Liberal government that put beer and wine in some grocery stores kept sales of spirits in the hands of the LCBO. And until recently, Ford's plan to further expand access did not include spirits.

OPSEU president J. P. Hornick said the union is not opposing Ford fulfilling his 2018 election promise to put beer and wine in corner stores, but OPSEU wants to keep the ready-to-drink cocktails out of those locations.

Figures provided by the government show LCBO revenue and the money it paid to theOntario government both rose steadily between 2015 and 2023, even as alcohol sales expanded to more retail stores and bars and restaurants were allowed to sell alcohol for take-out and delivery.

The figuresalso show thesale of ready-to-drink beverages made up 9.1 per cent of all LCBO sales last year.

TheConvenience Industry Council of Canada saidresearch it commissioned showed extending alcohol sales to Ontario convenience stores wouldcreate hundreds of jobs, spur investment and contribute significant annual tax revenueto the federal and provincial governments.

"It is unfortunate that OPSEU leadership are afraid of competition and are fighting for a closed, restrictive market with fewer options for consumers," CICCpresident AnneKothawala said in a statement Friday.

WATCH |Why LCBO workers are on strike:

Why LCBO workers are on strike

2 months ago

Duration 5:06

More than 9,000 Ontario liquor store employees are on strike after bargaining talks broke down between their union and the LCBO. As CBCs Mike Crawley explains, the union is demanding Doug Fords government reverse its decision to sell some drinks at convenience and grocery stores.

Andrew Moore, who was picketing Fridayin Hamilton, Ont., said he was heartened by supportive drivers who honked their horns as they passed by. Beyond the potential loss of LCBO revenue, Moore said he's upset about work going to non-union employees.

"We're not really asking for money ... we were just looking for job security and they couldn't guarantee us anything we were asking for," Moore said.

Province defendsalcohol sales expansion

In a statement on Thursday, the LCBO urged the union to return to the bargaining table.

The LCBO also said the union's leadership had made it clearthat it would strike"solely over their demand that the government reverse its decision to have ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages (coolers and seltzers) being available in convenience and grocery stores."

It saidcasual employees have access to benefits and half of them are guaranteed at least 1,000 hours of work annually.

In an interview on CBC's Power & Politics on Friday, Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfavlysaid hisProgressive Conservative party campaigned to expand alcohol sales in the past two elections in which it won majority governments.

"We've had stakeholders say ... they've been waiting decades for this opportunity and this is going to help, you know, small businesses, that consumers have been asking for this convenience and choice,"Bethlenfalvy said.

The LCBO says all of its 680 stores willclose to individual consumers for 14 days,unless a deal is reached during that period. The LCBO website and mobile app will continue to accept orders for free home delivery duringthe strike.

If the strike goes on past two weeks, the LCBO said it will open 32stores three days a week, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, with limited hours.

Five stores in key locations will open on July 5th for restaurant, bar and other licensee customers only.

Alcohol continues to be available at grocery stores, private wineries, breweries and distilleries, as well as bars, restaurants and The Beer Store.