Potential LCBO Strike Marks First in Ontario Liquor Store’s History
If past patterns hold true, unionized LCBO workers are unlikely to strike on July 5, despite reaching a legal strike position.
Ontario residents are familiar with this storyline: the union begins with a robust strike mandate, negotiations intensify, and typically culminate in a satisfactory contract agreement, avoiding a strike altogether.
Yet, could this summer bring a twist in the plot?
The Ontario government’s initiative to permit grocery and convenience stores to sell beer, wine, and cocktails from this summer onwards casts a shadow over talks between the LCBO and the approximately 9,000 members of the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union (OPSEU).
Colleen MacLeod, chair of OPSEU’s Liquor Board Employees Division, expressed concerns during a recent press conference: “Premier Ford’s proposal presents a disadvantageous deal, which would further consolidate the alcohol market in favor of major grocers and convenience chains like Loblaws and Circle K.”
MacLeod emphasized the union’s demand for robust job security guarantees in the new collective agreement. With a resounding 97% vote in favor of potential strike action if an agreement isn’t reached by July 5, the union enters negotiations with a strong mandate.
Historically, unionized LCBO employees have managed to secure agreements without resorting to strikes, despite significant strike mandates in previous negotiations.
The union’s leadership has undergone changes.
Reviewing news archives reveals that LCBO workers voted to strike in 2005, 2009, 2013, and 2017, yet each time they successfully negotiated a contract without resorting to a strike.
Remarkably, the LCBO has never experienced a strike in its history. However, there are no guarantees that history will repeat itself this time around.
The composition of LCBO workers has evolved over the years, with changes in union leadership since the last collective agreement was finalized in 2021. Additionally, concerns among workers about job security have intensified following the Ford government’s decision to significantly expand alcohol retail outlets.
Steven Tufts, an associate professor at York University specializing in labour studies, highlighted that one of the union’s primary negotiation goals is to secure a substantial increase in severance pay to mitigate the risk of mass layoffs.
Approximately 80% of the LCBO’s unionized workforce are customer service representatives, a majority of whom are employed on a casual basis and paid at a lower wage scale compared to their full-time counterparts performing the same duties.
