Unionized employees at the province of Ontario’s government liquor retail enterprise LCBO voted 95% in favour of a strike if contract negotiations fail.
The contract for 7,000 workers expired at the end of last month. LCBO is one of the world’s largest buyers and retailers of beverage alcohol.
Employees are angry over a proposed wage freeze and are demanding better job security.
Ontario Public Service Workers Union (OPSE) spokesman Greg Hamara says there are no plans to walk off the job and that customers shouldn’t worry about going dry. However, even the threat of a strike in 2009 (which did not happen) emptied many shelves in LCBO outlets in Canada’s most populous province.
In a press release announcing the 95% strike vote held Tuesday night (April 9) the union quoted OPSE president Warren (Smokey) Thomas: “That number should send a pretty powerful message to LCBO management that their own employees are profoundly dissatisfied with the pace of negotiations.”
In a statement released Wednesday, the LCBO said it was disappointed but not surprised with the strike mandate.
“It is not unusual for a union to have a strike vote during the collective bargaining process,” said Bob Peter, LCBO President & CEO. “Collective bargaining is scheduled to continue until mid-May. We’re looking forward to getting back to the bargaining table and working toward an agreement that is fair and in keeping with the economic realities and recent public sector agreements.”
More information:
OPSE press release – here
LCBO press release – here
CBC News “LCBO workers vote in favour of strike” – here
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