LCBO and OPSEU resume talks after tentative deal put on hold

A tentative agreement reached Friday between the LCBO and the union representing workers was suspended the same day as return-to-work talks continued amid the first strike in the company’s history.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which represents about 9,000 liquor store workers, has demanded that management sign a return-to-work protocol. The LCBO, which operates more than 680 stores, has accused the union of negotiating in bad faith.

On Friday morning, both sides announced that a preliminary agreement had been reached to end the two-week strike.

But on Friday afternoon, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) said the LCBO refused to sign a return-to-work protocol requiring employees to return to work on Monday.

After a short press conference by the union, both parties returned to the negotiating table.

“We can confirm that negotiations on the return to work protocol are still ongoing,” OPSEU spokesperson Kim Johnston said in an email Friday evening.

More than 9,000 workers went on strike on July 5, closing stores across the province.

WATCH | Why LCBO Workers Are Striking:

Why LCBO Workers Are Striking

More than 9,000 Ontario liquor store workers are striking after negotiations between their union and the LCBO collapsed. As CBC’s Mike Crawley explains, the union is demanding that Doug Ford’s government reverse its decision to allow some liquor to be sold in convenience stores and grocery stores.

“A return-to-work protocol is necessary for workers to return to work in the event of a strike,” union representative Katie Arnup said at a news conference. “Without that document signed, we have no deal. The strike continues.”

Less than an hour later, the LCBO issued a statement saying the union had filed a new set of demands “that should have been addressed at the bargaining table” after a tentative deal was reached. The LCBO said it planned to file an unfair labor practice complaint against the union.

“Introducing new demands after a preliminary agreement has been reached amounts to negotiating in bad faith,” the statement said.

LCBO publishes details of agreement

According to the LCBO, the tentative agreement signed Friday includes eight percent wage increases over three years, an additional 7.8 percent for the lowest-paid workers and a special pay increase for certain warehouse trading positions.

In addition, it includes the conversion of approximately 1,000 on-call workers into permanent part-time employees, the hiring of 60 permanent full-time employees for warehouse activities and improved access to secondary employment conditions for on-call workers working 1,300 hours and 1,000 hours.

According to the Crown corporation, the program also includes enhanced mental health services and discharge policies.

The LCBO said the signed agreement provides for “no store closures related to marketplace expansion during the term of the collective agreement.” A non-binding joint union and management committee will decide how best to implement marketplace plans.

Management also agreed to provide letters of agreement to limit the number of LCBO outlets to 400, limit outsourcing and increase the volume of products in warehouses serving retail stores by 1.25 million cases.

Provincial plan to expand alcohol sales under discussion

The union has said Premier Doug Ford’s plans to expand ready-to-drink cocktails to other stores were central to negotiations.

Thanks to the plan, all 8,000+ local shops and supermarkets in the province will be allowed to sell beer, wine and ready-made cocktails.

According to the union, the expansion could lead to thousands of job losses for LCBO workers within a few years.

The government also expects the province to guarantee wage increases and is aiming for ‘more stable and permanent jobs’.