Liquor stores across Ontario likely won’t open Friday after talks between the LCBO and its workers broke down hours before a midnight strike deadline, according to the workers’ union.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) said in a media advisory Thursday evening that the two sides are unlikely to reach a deal before the deadline it set for 12:01 a.m. Friday.
The union has scheduled a news conference at 6 p.m ET. CBC News will be carrying it live above.
“After a long week at the bargaining table, talks have broken down and we are not hopeful a deal can be reached at this time,” said the union, which represents around 10,000 LCBO employees.
If it proceeds, the strike would be the first in the provincial Crown corporation’s history and would limit the availability of some types of alcohol, particularly wine and spirits.
The LCBO says all of its more than 680 locations will close for 14 days in the event of a strike.
If an agreement is reached within the 14-day closure period, it says it will “reopen stores and resume normal operations as soon as possible.” If the strike continues, it will open 32 stores Friday through Sunday with limited hours.
The corporation says its website and app will continue to accept orders for free home delivery for the duration of a possible strike, but there would be “reasonable caps” on products both in store and online. Distribution to bars and restaurants would continue, and LCBO convenience outlets in smaller communities would remain open.
Sales would also continue at grocery stores, private wineries, breweries and distilleries, as well as bars, restaurants and The Beer Store.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union has set a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m. Friday for its approximately 10,000 workers at the LCBO. CBC’s Mike Crawley has the latest on the negotiations.
Union slams booze sales at grocery, convenience stores
The workers are seeking wage increases and more full-time jobs, saying part-time roles have become 70 per cent of their workforce.
The union is also fearful of job losses after Premier Doug Ford’s government announced plans to open up the alcohol market to allow convenience stores and all grocery stores to sell beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails.
“LCBO workers don’t want a dry summer. We have put forward a plan that would grow the LCBO to meet demand and increase convenience, to expand public revenues, and to support jobs at the LCBO and in our communities,” the union said in an email statement Wednesday.
“But Doug Ford wants to hand more of the $2.5 billion in public revenues generated by the LCBO over to the CEOs and big box grocery and convenience chains, like Loblaws and Circle K.”
LCBO stores expanded their hours in the past week, with all stores in the province opening early at 9:30 a.m. and many stores staying open until 10 p.m. The Crown corporation says it’s focused on getting a deal that’s fair to employees but also helps it “operate effectively and efficiently for Ontario in a new marketplace.”
‘Unnecessary’ strike threatens summer fun: province
A spokesperson for Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy criticized the union and defended its decision to expand alcohol sales.
“It’s disappointing that OPSEU could be heading towards an unnecessary strike that threatens people’s ability to enjoy their summers,” Bethlenfalvy’s press secretary wrote in a statement.
“Ontario consumers need and deserve the same choice and convenience every other Canadian enjoys.”
Restaurant industry groups are advising their members to sign up for the LCBO’s new online platform so they can continue to order alcohol for delivery during a potential strike, and to stock up.
Rocco Mastrangelo Jr., owner of Cafe Diplomatico in Toronto’s Little Italy, said the possible strike comes at a bad time, citing the ongoing Euro Cup and Copa America soccer tournaments.
“Little Italy is always looking forward to the summer season for patio season and we’re very busy,” he said in an interview on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning.
“We’ve stocked up as much as possible. I have product even sitting at home because I don’t have enough room in the restaurant to hold it.”
Matt Woo, who works for a wine and spirit importer in Toronto, said he was buying alcohol for himself that isn’t available at grocery stores ahead of the possible strike, including vintage wines and tequila.
“I’m an absolute snob when it comes to wines and, quite frankly, the selections you can find at your local grocery stores — I’ll just drink water, thank you very much,” Woo said in an interview outside a downtown Toronto LCBO.
Deal could be difficult to reach given demands: expert
Over the years, unionized LCBO workers have always been able to get a deal without walking off the job, even when they’ve voted strongly in favour of a strike.
LCBO workers voted to strike in 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017, yet reached agreement on a contract without a strike in every one of those rounds of bargaining.
Despite that history of reaching deals, one expert says things could go differently this time.
Rod Phillips, a wine writer and professor at Carleton University who’s studied the history of alcohol, said he thinks a deal might be difficult to reach due to the complexity of the union’s demands, which go beyond wages, benefits and working conditions.
“Some of the things the union wants, like rolling back privatization, is something that the LCBO can’t do,” Phillips said. “These are government decisions.”
Phillips said the Ford government has shown itself to be “very positive” about expanding alcohol availability across the province and is unlikely to roll that back.
A strike could backfire and damage the LCBO because of the availability of other options, Phillips said.
“One of the dangers is that if the strike goes on for very long, that people get used to going to other places, so that when the strike is over … the business doesn’t just flow back to the LCBO automatically,” he said.