More than 7,500 unionized workers at 659 Liquor Control Board of Ontario stores across the province have been voting the last two days whether to give their union a strike mandate in ongoing contract talks with the province.
Voting in Sudbury took place Monday at OPSEU's regional office on Newgate Avenue. The LCBO operates 13 stores in Greater Sudbury. Other locals were voting today, although officials were unsure Tuesday whether results would be available later this evening.
Among the issues at the bargaining table are the province's plan to allow grocery stores to sell beer, wine and cider, ending the LCBO's longstanding monopoly on alcohol sales.
About 130 grocery stores across Ontario are beer and cider, including up to 70 that can sell wine. Ultimately, beer, wine, and cider will be available in up to 450 grocery stores, including up to 300 that also sell wine.
“Our proposals are designed to save the LCBO -- not just the LCBO we have, but the stronger and better one that we know is possible,” Denise Davis chair of the negotiating team, said in a bargaining update.
“Our team knows that a better LCBO starts with stopping privatization. That's why we're proposing strong new anti-privatization language at the bargaining table.
After watching what happened with Hydro One, we know this government can't be trusted to look out for the public's interest when it comes to our public assets.
So we're proposing language that would mean the government can't move ahead with privatizing the LCBO without the public's approval. We think Ontarians should get the say they didn't have on Hydro One.”
That's why getting a strong mandate from members is so important, Davis said in the update.
