LCBO Scraps Proposal to Open 32 Stores Amid Ongoing Strike

July 15, 2024 TruthUSA

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) has decided to cancel the opening of 32 in-store locations on July 19 due to an ongoing strike by retail workers in the province.

Instead of opening physical stores, the provincially owned company will reassign staff to other areas of operation while continuing to serve customers through its online store, LCBO.com, as stated in a July 14 statement by the Crown corporation.

The LCBO has been fulfilling online orders within a week and, due to this success, will redirect its staff to further enhance support for bars, restaurants, and other businesses.

As highlighted in the statement, this shift in focus will improve services for bars and restaurants in Ontario, including product selection, availability, and delivery speed, with more details to be communicated directly to these customers.

Therefore, LCBO retail stores will remain closed for the duration of the strike.

Earlier, the liquor retailer had announced plans to open 32 stores for limited hours on weekends if the strike lasted beyond 14 days, as reported previously.

LCBO has now abandoned its plans for temporary store openings for the second time. The company announced on July 8 that it would not open five stores to supply wholesale customers after the threat of pickets from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

Over 9,000 employees of Ontario liquor stores went on strike on July 5, resulting in the closure of 669 locations across the province. This marks the first strike in the history of the LCBO in Ontario.

Negotiations

Discussions between the union representing workers and the LCBO have ceased, with disagreements persisting regarding the expansion of alcohol sales in Ontario between the province and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).

The main point of contention between the two sides has been the government’s decision to allow the sale of ready-to-drink beverages in convenience, grocery, and big-box stores later this summer.

While the union accuses the province of diverting profits from the LCBO to corporations and private owners, the government argues that it is a matter of public policy.

On July 11, the province stated that if the union no longer wants to negotiate on the topic of ready-to-drink beverages, they are ready to resume negotiations immediately. They emphasize the importance of active engagement to move forward.

However, the union insists that the expansion of alcohol sales is a crucial part of the negotiations, as it could jeopardize thousands of jobs and provincial revenues.

In a statement on July 11, the union reiterated their concerns about revenue loss due to expanded alcohol sales and the impact on job security for LCBO retail employees.

Provincial Plans

The office of Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy announced on July 5 that the province remains committed to increasing access to beer, cider, wine, and ready-to-drink beverages in convenience, grocery, and big-box stores later this summer.

Moreover, Premier Doug Ford has endorsed the province’s online tool to help consumers find alternatives to LCBO stores affected by the strike.

He introduced a new searchable online map through social media on July 8, emphasizing that Ontarians can still access their favorite alcoholic beverages, including those from local producers, despite the strike.

Ford has long advocated for public alcohol sales, fulfilling a promise made during the 2018 election, as reported in a December 2023 statement.

The government views this expansion as the largest enhancement of consumer choice and convenience since the end of alcohol prohibition nearly a century ago, aiming to elevate Ontario’s ranking in terms of alcohol retail store density.

Chandra Philip contributed to this report.

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