Striking Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) workers were on the picket line Friday morning province-wide in a strike action affecting more than 9,000 employees, including approximately 140 in the North Bay area.
All LCBO outlets are expected to remain closed for 14 days unless an agreement is reached.
Employees from the three North Bay LCBO outlets gathered this morning at the intersection of Algonquin and the Highway 11/17 bypass to send their message to the public.
Wayne Young is a full-time customer service employee at the LCBO with 19 years of service.
"It is very much disappointing as has been pointed out, the Board and its employees have never gone on strike in the 97-year history of the LCBO," noted Young.
"Last time it was during COVID our bargaining and our hand was forced because of Bill 124 and the time before that it was extended to 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. but still they came to an agreement which is why I am still here as I am running on caffeine because I was still hopeful we would be showing up for shifts today but cooler heads did not prevail.
"The Board will not budge on what they are sticking to which is mainly with the backdoor privatization of the LCBO," he said.
The striking workers believe public support is already building for them
"Since I have been here, all I have heard is honking horns, people waving and they seem very supportive of us," said Young.
Young is hoping this strike will not be long-term.
"I like to think of myself as an odds guy so I am waiting to see what the outcomes are," he said.
Central to stalled contract negotiations is the government’s plan to allow beer, wine and ready-made cocktail sales at grocery and corner stores, supported by Premier Doug Ford.
In a media release issued on Thursday, OPSEU, the union representing striking workers, noted that strike action would commence at 12:01 a.m. on Friday after talks broke down at the bargaining table.
Throughout negotiations, OPSEU proposed alternative plans to Ford’s alcohol everywhere plan, and they were willing to strike over it, the media release noted.
The Minister of Finance’s office offered a statement relating to the LCBO strike.
"We are disappointed by OPSEU’s decision to walk away from the bargaining table hours before their deadline, initiating a strike and causing inconvenience for people across Ontario," the release to BayToday.ca stated.
"We are particularly disappointed that OPSEU is opposed to giving consumers in Ontario the choice and convenience of buying readymade drinks, like coolers and seltzers, in grocery and convenience stores.
"We are more committed than ever to fulfilling our promise of choice and convenience by expanding access to beer, cider, wine, and ready-to-drink beverages in convenience, grocery, and big-box stores starting later this summer," the release continued.
"We urge OPSEU to return to the negotiating table and work towards a deal that prioritizes Ontario consumers and producers."
With files from Tyler Clarke/Sudbury.com
