Premier Doug Ford is expressing his appreciation to LCBO workers for agreeing to a new three-year deal.
Stores will reopen to the public tomorrow.
Workers return with higher wages and benefits and a commitment from the Liquor Control Board not to sell off stores and to place a cap on agency stores.
Ford admits he has faced pressure to sell off LCBO stores.
“As many people as I talked to, I had as many people calling me up, “get rid of the LCBO. We don’t need them. Put them in retail.” I don’t believe that. I believe in supporting the 9000 hardworking people,” says Ford.
Ford says the agreement does allow for the expansion of alcohol sales to convenience stores, big boxes, and grocery stores.
“People want to be treated like everywhere else in the world. You go to Quebec. You go across the border. You can go into a retail store and pick up a cider or ready-to-drink cooler, a case of beer or a bottle of wine. That’s what we need to do.”
While Ford is happy workers will return to the job, he is disappointed with how the issue played out.
The deal reached last Friday was also nearly scuttled over a dispute related to the workers’ return to work.
Shortly after it was announced, OPSEU accused the LCBO of not wanting to sign off on a protocol.
The LCBO claimed the union wanted new monetary demands that should have been made at the bargaining table.
Ford says it caught him by surprise.
“You get a deal. You get a deal, right? All of a sudden, surprise, surprise. Never in Canadian history that I’ve ever heard. I’ve been in a lot of labour negotiations. They rescind the deal, and they come back after it’s signed.”
The LCBO indicated plans to file a complaint with the Ministry of Labour of unfair bargaining.
The two sides were able to resolve the issue, allowing for ratification by workers to proceed.
