With just hours left until LCBO workers could walk off the job, booze lovers are stocking up on their favourite bottles of liquor, wine, seltzer and beer.
Around 680 stores operated by Ontario's main liquor retailer could shut their doors Friday if a deal isn't reached between the LCBO and the union representing its approximately 10,000 workers.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) is bringing a hefty strike mandate to the bargaining table, with members voting 97 per cent in favour of job action if a deal isn't reached. The union has set a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m. Friday.
While negotiations between the two sides continue, a union spokesperson says they remain far apart and to expect a long day of bargaining.
The workers are seeking wage increases and more full-time jobs, saying part-time roles have become 70 per cent of their workforce.
The union is also fearful of job losses after Premier Doug Ford's government announced plans to open up the alcohol market to allow convenience stores and all grocery stores to sell beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails.
"LCBO workers don't want a dry summer. We have put forward a plan that would grow the LCBO to meet demand and increase convenience, to expand public revenues, and to support jobs at the LCBO and in our communities," the union said in an email statement Wednesday.
"But Doug Ford wants to hand more of the $2.5 billion in public revenues generated by the LCBO over to the CEOs and big box grocery and convenience chains, like Loblaws and Circle K."
WATCH | Here is everything you need to know about a possible LCBO strike: The Ontario Public Service Employees Union has set a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m. Friday for its approximately 10,000 workers at the LCBO. CBC’s Mike Crawley has the latest on the negotiations.The LCBO has said that if a strike takes place, all locations will close for 14 days and after that point, if the strike continues, the Crown corporation will open 30 stores three days a week with limited hours.
The corporation says its website and app will continue to accept orders for free home delivery for the duration of a possible strike, but there would be "reasonable caps" on products both in store and online.
A spokesperson for Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said it's "disappointing" the union could be heading to an "unnecessary strike that threatens people's ability to enjoy their summers."
"It's never been more clear that Ontario consumers need and deserve the same choice and convenience every other Canadian enjoys," Bethlenfalvy's press secretary wrote in a statement.
"While we hope OPSEU puts consumers first by working constructively at the negotiating table toward a deal, we have never been more committed than we are now to delivering on our promise to deliver more choice and convenience with beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink beverages in convenience, grocery and big box stores."
LCBO stores have expanded their hours in the days ahead of the strike, with all stores in the province opening early at 9:30 a.m. and many stores staying open until 10 p.m.
Premier Doug Ford announced plans to ontroduce sales of beer, wine and ready-made cocktails into corner stores and additional supermarkets in May. (Alex Lupul/CBC)Over the years, unionized LCBO workers have always been able to get a deal without walking off the job, even when they've voted strongly in favour of a strike.
LCBO workers voted to strike in 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017, yet reached agreement on a contract without a strike in every one of those rounds of bargaining.
Despite that history of reaching deals, one expert says things could go differently this time.
Rod Phillips, a wine writer and professor at Carleton University who's studied the history of alcohol, said he thinks a deal might be difficult to reach due to the complexity of the union's demands, which go beyond wages, benefits and working conditions.
"Some of the things the union wants, like rolling back privatization, is something that the LCBO can't do," Phillips said. "These are government decisions."
Phillips said the Ford government has shown itself to be "very positive" about expanding alcohol availability across the province and is unlikely to roll that back.
A strike could backfire and damage the LCBO because of the availability of other options, Phillips said.
"One of the dangers is that if the strike goes on for very long, that people get used to going to other places, so that when the strike is over ... the business doesn't just flow back to the LCBO automatically," he said.
