Ford government refutes LCBO privatization claims as union members rally in 11 cities
Global News
Unionized LCBO members are rallying in 11 cities across Ontario on Tuesday as they push back against plans to expand alcohol sales to more private retailers.
Liquor Control Board of Ontario employees represented by OPSEU are rallying in 11 Ontario cities on Tuesday in what they are describing as a push to “fight for good jobs and keep $2.5 billion LCBO revenues invested in public services, not big box store CEO pockets.”
The Day of Action — held in Toronto, Brockville, Hamilton, London, Mississauga, North Bay, Ottawa, Pickering, Port Hope, Thunder Bay and Windsor — comes one day before contract bargaining begins.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union said it is fighting to reverse pay cuts, keep alcohol sales in public hands and to invest in full-time, good paying jobs at the LCBO.
LCBO employees represented by the union were among the public workers impacted by Bill 124, the controversial wage-restraint legislation that was officially repealed last month. In late 2022, the law was struck down as unconstitutional. The Doug Ford government appealed the 2022 ruling to the Ontario Court of Appeal, which also sided against it. At that point, the government said it would not fight the decision any further.
The legislation has resulted in billions of dollars in backpay being awarded so far, with LCBO members the latest to reach an agreement.
Over the weekend, the union and province agreed to arbitration, and OPSEU said the arbitrator awarded its members a 6.5 per cent retroactive wage increase spread over the three-year agreement, covering the period from April 1, 2021, to today.
With the issue of Bill 124 seemingly settled, unionized LCBO employees are now setting their sights on fighting against changes to alcohol sales in the province.
In December, the Ford government announced that sales of beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink, low-alcohol cocktails will be allowed in participating convenience stores, as well as grocery and big box stores, beginning no later than Jan. 1, 2026.
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