Labour unrest at the LCBO with a strike vote set for end of month

By Canadian Press

Published: April 4, 2017 at 8:18 PM

Members of OPSEU Local 165 held an information picket protesting alcohol sales outside of LCBO outlets at an LCBO in Brantford on Jan. 21, 2017.(Len Elliot / Twitter)

Liquor Control Board of Ontario staff represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union will be holding a strike vote on April 24 and 25.

The union has long railed against the government's move to sell beer, wine and cider in grocery stores, calling it ``creeping privatization.''

At the bargaining table, OPSEU says the LCBO is demanding ``concessions'' that it will not accept, and says major concerns include job security, scheduling and health and safety.

OPSEU has asked the Ministry of Labour to appoint a conciliator and if those discussions fail, it can start the clock toward a strike.

The union represents 7,500 LCBO staff whose collective agreement expired March 31.

The LCBO says it is committed to reaching a negotiated agreement and is still optimistic that will happen.