1st day of LCBO workers' strike underway with stores closed

Ontario liquor store employees hit the picket lines Friday for the first-ever strike in the Crown corporation's history, with LCBO stores expected to be closed for the next two weeks.

Striking workers gathered outside closed LCBO stores across the province, carrying signs and chanting slogans. 

Natasha St. John, who was picketing outside an LCBO in north Toronto, said she's on strike to protect good-paying jobs that allow LCBO workers to support their families.

"We really don't want Ontario to have a dry summer, but we're willing to give up a couple weeks if it means we get to secure our jobs for a few more years," St. John said.

More than 9,000 workers walked off the job just after midnight Friday following a breakdown in negotiations between the LCBO and Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) that failed to produce a new contract.

The workers are seeking wage increases and more full-time jobs, saying part-time and casual roles have become 70 per cent of their workforce. The union also opposes part of the province's plan to open up the alcohol market to allow convenience stores and all grocery stores to sell beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails, such as White Claws.

St. John said she's worked at the LCBO for the past six years as a casual — a class of employee whose work hours aren't always guaranteed and who are paid on a lower pay scale than permanent, full-time employees.

Many casual employees have to work two jobs to make a living, St. John said, and some have to work for five to 10 years before transitioning to a permanent position.

"As much fun as we're having out here, just because of who we are, we don't want to be out here. We want to be back in our stores. We want to