As the first LCBO strike in history enters its second week, pressure is mounting on Premier Doug Ford to resolve the labour disruption.
Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said Friday said it’s time for Ford to part ways with Liquor Control Board of Ontario chair Carmine Nigro, his close friend.
At the same time, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which represents the 9,000 striking workers who have shuttered 680 LCBO stores since July 5, said Crown-owned booze giant needs to “stop the bullying and start bargaining.”
“On Thursday, July 4, the LCBO put forward an insulting offer and told us not to come back unless we were willing to give up on our core demands for a better future,” said Colleen MacLeod, chair of OPSEU’s liquor board employees division and bargaining team.
MacLeod reiterated the union’s fear that Ford’s plan to sell beer, wine and premixed beverages — like White Claw and Mike’s Hard Lemonade — at supermarkets, convenience stores and big box outlets “would threaten thousands of jobs” at the LCBO.
“How much revenue will be lost by the plan to expand alcohol sales, including ready to drinks?” said the union leader, noting the provincial chain brings in $2.5 billion to the treasury.
“The LCBO has said they want us back at the table, but only if we follow their rules and drop ready-to-drink cocktails … (which) are the fastest growing market in the alcohol industry,” she said Thursday night.
“To us, seeing those products go into 8,500 new private retail locations like gas stations and convenience chains means less hours of work, fewer jobs, and lower public revenues.”
But Ford warned Wednesday “if they want to negotiate over (ready-to-drink beverages), the deal’s off … that ship has sailed — it’s halfway across Lake Ontario.”
The premier said the LCBO would make 400 casual employees full-time and give all workers seven per cent raises over three years.
It will remain a public entity with a monopoly on the sale of spirits and on wholesale distribution to all retailers.
But he insisted it is full-steam ahead with his plan, which will cost between $225 million and $1 billion, to speed up liberalized beer, wine and premixed cocktail sales by Oct. 31.
Crombie blamed the strike in Ford and his associates.
“It has become clear that the LCBO board is no longer working in the best interests of the people of Ontario, and is instead focused on advancing Doug Ford’s personal political agenda,” the Liberal leader said.
“It’s no wonder why. Doug Ford handpicked the board of the LCBO, stacking it with (Progressive) Conservative insiders,” she said.
“Mr. Nigro is a close personal friend of Doug Ford. He has donated tens of thousands of dollars to the PCs, and was previously a vice-president of the party,” said Crombie.
“Ford’s handpicked cronies can’t be trusted on this billion-dollar ‘boozedoggle,’ which will benefit wealthy corporations, at the expense of Ontario families. It is just another example of Doug Ford’s cycle of cronyism, helping his rich friends get richer.”
The premier reappointed Nigro, a trusted member of his inner circle and president and CEO of CRAFT Development Corporation, to a second three-year term as LCBO czar in 2022.
On Thursday, the LCBO said it was “at the table ready for active negotiations to restart today.”
But no talks are scheduled — despite calls from rank-and-file members for their resumption.
OPSEU members walked off the job last Friday, closing the LCBO for the first time in its 97-year history.
The job action came six weeks after Ford announced he would pay The Beer Store $225 million to move up the previously announced Dec. 31, 2025 deadline for expanded liberalization, which began under former Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne in 2015.
