LCBO workers ratify deal to end strike, stores to reopen Tuesday

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) says stores will reopen on Tuesday after the union representing 10,000 of its workers ratified a new deal with the liquor retailer on Sunday to end the two-week strike that had closed its stores.

The strike officially ended at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, and stores will be ready to serve customers tomorrow.

“We recognize the disruption the strike caused for our employees, partners, and customers who rely on our services, and we thank everyone for their continued understanding as we begin resuming regular operations,” the LCBO said in a statement.

OPSEU, which represents LCBO workers, said in a press release Sunday that the three-year collective agreement was approved by LCBO workers.

“We went on strike to protect good jobs and public revenues and to win more permanent jobs with benefits and guaranteed hours,” said Colleen MacLeod, chair of the OPSEU bargaining team, in the press release. “Our members stood strong. They held strong lines, they talked to their communities — and they won.”

Starting Tuesday, LCBO customers can resume in-store shopping and may continue shopping online. There will no longer be product limits on online orders, but there will be a minimum online order of $50 with a flat delivery fee on all online orders. The LCBO said online orders may take up to three weeks to receive.

Starting July 30, delivery to the store and same-day pickup will be available as an option. The LCBO said customer orders placed during the strike are being fulfilled, and orders placed after July 17 may take up to three weeks to arrive. 

Customers can cancel an online order by emailing the LCBO at onlineorders@lcbo.com.

“We thank our customers for their understanding and patience as we make the necessary adjustments to return to the service levels our customers expect from us.”

The LCBO published details of the agreement on Friday. The agreement includes an eight per cent wage increase over three years, the conversion of about 1,000 casual employees to permanent part-time positions, and no store closures.

The ratification comes after the deal was up in the air on Friday, after both OPSEU and the LCBO announced a tentative agreement had been reached but the union said the strike would continue after the employer refused to sign a return-to-work protocol.

Both sides accused each other of bargaining in bad faith, with the employer saying it would file an unfair labour practice complaint.

The LCBO, however, issued a statement on Saturday saying both sides had signed off on the protocol and reopening plans were back underway.

“As we welcome back our valued employees, we are focused on returning to our normal operations in support of our retail and wholesale customers and of Ontario’s beverage alcohol industry,” the LCBO said in a statement Sunday.

OPSEU has said the strike, which began on July 5 and was the first of its kind in the LCBO’s history, was about protecting union jobs and provincial public revenue amid Premier Doug Ford’s plan to allow convenience and grocery stores to sell ready-to-drink cocktails.