LCBO workers from across the Province went on strike at 12:01 on Friday, July 5, 2024.
In total, more than 9,000 LCBO workers are on strike after talks broke down at the bargaining table. OPSEU/SEFPO, the union representing the workers, has said all along that this round of bargaining is like no other.
“Doug Ford wants to make life better for his wealthy friends. It’s why he’s wasting upwards of a billion dollars of our money to fast-track privatized alcohol sales and hand more of the public revenues generated by the LCBO over to the CEOs and big box grocery and convenience chains like Loblaws and Circle K,” said OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick.
Frontline LCBO workers are proud that the revenues they help to generate give back to our communities.
“We know that the LCBO is Ontario’s best kept secret – and we’re fighting to protect it,” said Colleen MacLeod, Chair of OPSEU/SEFPO’s Liquor Board Employees Division (LBED) and the Bargaining Team. “We’ve been very clear that we won’t back down in our fight for a strong future for the LCBO and the public services funded by LCBO revenues.”
Throughout negotiations, the union proposed an alternative plan to Ford’s alcohol everywhere scheme and made it clear to Ford and the LCBO we’re ready to strike for it.
“We told Ford not to ruin everybody’s summer, but now he’s closed the Science Centre and forced a dry summer for Ontarians by refusing to offer a deal that would be good for LCBO workers and Ontario,” said Hornick.
Currently, 70% of workers are casual with no guaranteed hours, and no benefits and no chance for permanent part-time and full-time positions.
Locally, a number of LCBO workers from around Northumberland County picketed in front of the LCBO store on Elgin Street West at Northumberland Mall on Friday.
Local resident Terry Hickey works at the store and said, “the fundamental sticking point is the government is looking to privatize rather substantially, but also what we’re looking at particularly is the removal of vast amount of income from the provincial coffers. That’s staggering to all of us.”
Hickey said wages aren’t a factor in negotiations.
“We’re just really upset the government is moving funds away from things like hospitals and education and out to private sources.”
Hickey said it’s a “simple” solution to get the workers back.
“Doug Ford and everyone around him have to take a look that there is a more logical approach to what they are trying to do.”
No one has complained about the supposedly inconvenience of the LCBO said Hickey.
“This is very convenient.”
Hickey said the government is trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.
Despite the extreme temperatures, people were in great spirits on the picket line with lots of support from traffic with horns honking.
“We hope that that enthusiasm will actually move towards the government, so the government can see what we’re seeing here.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
