LCBO strike continues with discussions on provincial mandate

DAN CEARNS The Standard

DURHAM/KAWARTHA LAKES: Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) workers remain on strike as negotiations with the employer seem to be centering around provincial policy.

The strike started on Friday, July 5th, and the union representing the workers, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) is blaming Premier Doug Ford.

“Doug Ford has made it clear: he forced this strike to push his alcohol-everywhere agenda; to dismantle the LCBO and hand billions in public revenues over to the big box billionaires, and he’s got the help of Weston family members like Claudia Hepburn who sit on the LCBO board of directors,” an OPSEU press release posted on Monday, July 15th, stated.

In her own statement, Colleen MacLeod, Chair of OPSEU’s Bargaining Team, acknowledged the impact this strike has on Ontario customers.

“We understand this strike impacts our customers and our communities,” she said. “Our members want stores to be open and to be back at work as soon as possible. We miss our regulars and want to get back to work. It is on Ford to end this strike, after all, he forced it to justify his rushed alcohol everywhere scheme.”

OPSEU President JP Hornick said the union was “handed an insulting offer which made it clear their employer did not have a mandate to address workers’ core demands: protecting jobs and public revenues.”

In their own press release, the LCBO stated their priority during this strike is “to help ensure our products remain accessible to our customers.”

“We regret the impact of OPSEU's strike on small local businesses trying to shop with us. The LCBO did not want a strike, and we apologize for the inconvenience to our wholesale customers.”

In a letter sent to the LCBO, Finance Minister and Uxbridge MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy wrote that the provincial government feels the LCBO will “continue to succeed, even as we provide people with more options.”