LCBO stores could reopen next week if agreement ratified
LCBO workers and LCBO announced a tentative deal Friday, setting the 15-day strike to end at 12:01 a.m. on July 22.
LCBO confirmed in a statement July 19 that the strike of its 10,000 unionized employees will end Monday, pending ratification of a deal with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), the union representing the employees.
“LCBO is now working to prepare our people and operations to return to business as usual. LCBO retail locations will open for in-store shopping on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. We look forward to welcoming our unionized employees back to work in service of Ontarians,” the LCBO statement read.
“We recognize the disruption the strike caused for our employees, partners, and customers who rely on our services, and we thank everyone for their continued patience and understanding as we begin resuming regular operations.”
Union confident new agreement will serve LCBO workers’ needs
The strike, which began on July 5 and has kept LCBO retail stores across the province closed, was a response to the provincial government’s “alcohol everywhere scheme” which the union said threatened jobs and stability for employees.
“Doug Ford wants to make life better for his wealthy friends. It’s why he’s wasting upwards of a billion dollars of our money to fast-track privatized alcohol sales and hand more of the public revenues generated by the LCBO over to the CEOs and big box grocery and convenience chains like Loblaws and Circle K,” OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick, said in a July 4 statement announcing the strike.
“Right now, 70% of LCBO workers are casual – they don’t have guaranteed hours, which means most won’t have access to benefits and there aren’t opportunities to move into permanent part-time and full-time positions.”
Details of the new deal will remain undisclosed until they are shared with all union members, OPSEU said in Friday’s statement; “but the union is confident this agreement addresses the needs of workers and is a win for all Ontarians.”
OPSEU will be making an announcement at 3 p.m. EST July 19.