OPSEU’s Liquor Board Employees Division Chair Denise Davis has a message for Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.

“Kathleen, take us seriously. We have some huge issues, you know what they are, make the LCBO get to the table and give us a decent deal.”

Davis is speaking on behalf of LCBO workers at the Hollinger Court location, who were on the picket lines Thursday to inform the public what the issues are at the contract bargaining table.  They were one of 47 pickets across the province.

“We’ve got a 93 per cent strike vote, we’ve had 25 days at the bargaining table, we’re working with the conciliator and things are moving slowly,” she said.

“They didn’t have any dates in May, so we’re off doing pickets now.”

A main sticking point for the union is the recent announcement of 76 new approvals for grocery stores to sell beer and cider.  The Walmart in Timmins is one of them, taking effect June 30th.

“It doesn’t make us feel very trustworthy of the LCBO,” Davis said to the topic, “What they’re up to, we can see them push the privatisation agenda and we are out here to protect our jobs.  Job security, time with our families, working alone is a huge issue and contracting out work and stopping privatisation.”

Rogers Radio posed the query if there is a heightened concern in our case because Walmart is the busiest retailer in town.

Davis was quick to quip “I think we all know how Walmart treats their employees.” she stated, adding, “Is it a race to the bottom? Are we all going to be replaced with Walmart jobs?”

“We provide a good service, we care about our customers, were supported by our customers and I think it would be a bad decision to keep expanding alcohol into these type of employers and these type of workplaces.”

However, when questioned if further action would be taken, Davis simply stated they want a new contract.

“If the employer and Premier Wynne aren’t serious about these important issues to all these members, these 7,500 members in the province, then we’ll have to determine where were going with that, but we want to bargain a contract, and the LCBO needs to do that.”

For now, long weekenders don’t have to sweat, the LCBO is still open on holiday hours.

Learn more at SavetheLCBO.ca

 

Filed under: Local News