LCBO approves four-year contract for casual workers

OPSEU, which represents approximately diverse 130,000 members across Ontario, said LCBO workers voted 56 percent in favour of a tentative agreement in voting held over Tuesday and Wednesday.

Currently, 84 percent of LCBO retail workers were in casual positions.

The new agreement set a limit that no more than 70 percent of retail positions can be casual, and committed to the LCBO to reaching that point within the four-year term.

The LCBO, an Ontario government enterprise and one of the world’s largest buyers and retailers of beverage alcohol with more than 650 retail stores and more than 210 agency stores, provide cost effective, services offering nearly 24,000 products annually to consumers and licensed establishments from more than 80 countries.

Net income from LCBO sales goes to the province and these revenues help pay for important public services, including health care, education and infrastructure.

Congratulating members on their new agreement and acknowledging their hard work into making this deal a reality, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas said, “If you read the news, the growth of precarious work is far too often seen as simply the new reality.”

“But these workers weren’t about to accept that. Instead, this bargaining team took on the challenge of not just limiting the growth of casual positions, but actually pushing back and demanding an increase in the number of good, full-time jobs," Thomas said.

“Tonight's ratification vote of 56 percent in favour is a clear signal that there is still work to do to improve labour relations at the LCBO. This is a Crown agency that creates revenue for services Ontarians need. It should serve as an example of how we expect employers to act in our province. Though obviously contentious, this deal sends a clear message: workers can win when they stand together to push back against precarious work and demand better.”

The deal will also increase job security, improve scheduling, and bring an end to the LCBO’s practice of scheduling workers for two-hour shifts, said OPSEU.

Sudhir, an employee of LCBO, was happy that the job security and the scheduling of two work-shifts made life easier for his family.

He said, “Once my job is secured, my wife and I can plan for purchasing a house while housing prices are still stable.”

Denise Davis, OPSEU bargaining team chair thanked the members for their support to the team during negotiations.

“We went to the table with a plan for a better LCBO,” said Davis. “It was a struggle from day one. But what made that plan a reality was the work done by members in their own communities to build public support for our proposals."

“At the end of the day, this deal will improve the lives of thousands of workers. It has put the issue of precarious work on the political radar. And that’s all thanks to the members who worked tirelessly over the past months to make it possible,” said Davis.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)