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As LCBO stores reopen, the Ontario Crown corporation and the union OPSEU are preparing for a market where they must compete with the big grocery oligarchs. On July 23, LCBO workers returned to work after their first-ever strike.
Workers spent 15 days on the picket lines fighting for "protection of good jobs and public revenue," states OPSEU bargaining team chair Colleen MacLeod "and to win more permanent jobs with benefits and guaranteed hours.”
The ratified deal includes provisions to convert 1,000 casual employees, 15% of the LCBO's workforce, into permanent part-time positions, a guarantee of no retail store closures, and a cap on the number of LCBO convenience outlets to 400.
LCBO workers will also receive an 8% wage increase over three years, an improved access to benefits for casual part-time workers who work 1,000 and 1,300 hours and improvements to severance packages.
Furthermore, the deal provides for the creation of a non-binding joint committee of LCBO management and union representatives. The details of this committee remain to be determined. Mike Hamilton, president of OPSEU Local 286, told The North Star:
"With the modernization of alcohol sales, the union and LCBO realize the LCBO sales are likely to drip as more points of sale are opened. To combat this, the joint committee will be making recommendations on possible avenues that may increase profits. Some examples may be, pop-up LCBO kiosks, LCBO-branded accessories or maybe even the sale of mix (pop, orange juice, etc.). [...] It will be up to the committee to look at every possible way to improve revenue."
"We [in the union] think this is a great idea, as we know hours are decided by the sales numbers. So, anything we can be involved with to help open new channels of sales is great."
Despite workers securing the protection of their retail stores and expanded access to benefits under the new contract, Ontario's Progressive Conservative government is continuing to facilitate the flow of revenue generated by alcohol sales into the coffers of private grocery chains.
However, JP Hornick, president of OPSEU recounts, "[This] is a fighting union, and this fight is far from over. I am incredibly proud of the power that LCBO workers have built, and they know how to use that power moving forward."