Clock ticking down to strike by LCBO workers
Posted May 16, 2013 04:25:33 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – If a new contract isn’t reached by midnight, 7,000 LCBO workers will be in a legal strike position to start the Victoria Day long weekend.
The two sides were able to resolve contract issues in 2005 and 2009, but the OPSEU president Warren Thomas isn’t optimistic this time.
“(The LBCO wants) to add two lower starting rates for a starting employee,” Thomas told 1310News. “They’re not willing to make any improvements…scheduling of hours.”
LCBO employees have been without a contract since the end of March. The two sides have been negotiating since February, even though OPSEU members voted 95 per cent in favour of strike action.
Thomas feels part of the problem is negotiations are becoming political.
“They want four more years of zero, more restraint,” Thomas said.
The provincial government and the LCBO both say they’re optimistic a solution can be found, but Ontario’s finance minister cautions that there’s no money for wage increases.
Not all options for purchasing alcohol would be cut off by a strike; rural LCBO agency stores in smaller grocery stores will stay open if a strike goes ahead. That includes locations in Osgoode, North Gower and Navan.
