TORONTO, July 4, 2024
/CNW/ - More than 9,000 LCBO workers will be out on strike as of
12:01 midnight tonight after talks broke down at
the bargaining table. OPSEU/SEFPO, the union representing the
workers, has said all along that this round of bargaining is like
no other.
"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," said OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick.
Frontline LCBO workers are proud that the revenues we help to
generate give back to our communities.
"We know that the LCBO is Ontario's best kept secret – and we're
fighting to protect it," said Colleen
MacLeod, Chair of OPSEU/SEFPO's Liquor Board Employees
Division (LBED) and the Bargaining Team. "We've been very clear
that we won't back down in our fight for a strong future for the
LCBO and the public services funded by LCBO revenues."
Throughout negotiations, the union proposed an alternative plan
to Ford's alcohol everywhere scheme and made it clear to Ford and
the LCBO we're ready to strike for it.
"We told Ford not to ruin everybody's summer, but now he's
closed the Science Centre and forced a dry summer for Ontarians by
refusing to offer a deal that would be good for LCBO workers and
Ontario," said Hornick.
We argued that we grow the LCBO to meet demand and increase
convenience by opening more stores, increasing the hours of
operation, and increasing warehousing, logistics and e-commerce
capacity. Doing this will also expand public revenues by increasing
LCBO sales which help fund our public services like health care and
education as well as key infrastructure.
When you buy from the LCBO, including spirit-based
ready-to-drink beverages, that should help build Ontario - not pay for a
billionaire's new yacht.
Our plan would also support good jobs at the LCBO and in our
communities. Having more permanent part-time and permanent
full-time job opportunities means greater product knowledge and
even better customer service.
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. We want a better
future for our members, the LCBO, and Ontario.
SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO)