HALIFAX—As the LCBO launches an advertising blitz aimed at ending an 11-day strike, Premier Doug Ford is urging the Ontario Public Service Employees Union to return to bargaining.
“I’ve talked to hundreds and hundreds of front-line people — all they want to do is get back to work,” Ford told the Star in Halifax, where he is attending the annual Council of the Federation meeting of the premiers.
“They are frustrated with the way their labour leader is right now — they want to get back. That’s all they want,” he said.
Ford said striking Liquor Control Board of Ontario workers have told him they are hurting financially while on picket lines and not earning their usual salaries.
“It breaks my heart when I speak to these people. It’s very tough to pay the bills and they just want to get back to work … I hear their stories and they are struggling.”
In a surprise salvo at OPSEU, Ford announced Monday that “ready-to-drink” cocktails will be sold at 450 licensed supermarkets as early as next week.
Expanding the sale of the pre-mixed drinks — such as Bacardi Breezer and Mike’s Hard Lemonade — has been a key concern of the union, which fears the loss of the LCBO’s monopoly on such beverages will undermine the Crown corporation.
Under Ford’s scheme, the products could be sold at as many as 8,500 convenience stores, supermarkets and big box outlets by Oct. 31.
The LCBO would remain the only retailer allowed to sell spirits — such as whisky, rum, gin, vodka and tequila.
“The premier needs to stop interfering with our members’ right to bargain and stop escalating his destruction of public alcohol sales,” said OPSEU president JP Hornick.
“Our members saw that their employer was directed never to bargain with them at the table,” said Hornick.
“They were handed an insulting offer that made it clear their employer did not have a mandate to address workers’ core demands: protecting jobs and public revenues.”
On Tuesday, the LCBO took out full-page newspaper ads and 30-second broadcast spots explaining its side of a labour dispute that began July 5.
“This strike did not need to happen,” says LCBO president and CEO George Soleas in the ads.
“In fact the LCBO worked hard to avoid it,” says Soleas.
The company is offering seven per cent raises over three years to the more than 9,000 OPSEU members who work at 680 LCBO stores as well as distribution warehouses.
As well, the LCBO has promised to give full-time jobs to 400 casual employees.
It’s the first time in the 97-year history of the booze giant that workers have hit the bricks.
The job action came just six weeks after Ford announced he would pay The Beer Store $225 million to speed up the previously announced Dec. 31, 2025 deadline for expanded alcohol sales.
Currently, the LCBO has a monopoly on most “ready-to-drink” beverages, which is the fastest growing alcohol category.
NDP Leader Marit Stiles, Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie and Green Leader Mike Schreiner have blamed Ford’s rushed alcohol liberalization push for the strike.
On Monday, the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario implored the government to end the dispute, which is hindering the operations of bars and restaurants.
The Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association also warned “the strike is already impacting licensed operations.”
