The chair of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union’s bargaining unit says significant gains were made as a direct result of a strike by liquor store employees.
Colleen MacLeod says LCBO workers are proud of what they achieved in this contract, noting that wouldn’t have been possible without the strike.
The new agreement includes an 8% wage hike over three years, job security with no store closures for the length of the contract, and a significant boost for 1,000 casual employees who are now considered permanent employees.
Both the union and LCBO management expressed relief and happiness that the strike is over.
Some 10,000 LCBO workers returned to work Monday to prepare for the reopening of nearly 700 stores yesterday.
They walked off the job on July 5th in a dispute the union says was largely over Premier Doug Ford’s plan to allow convenience and grocery stores to sell ready-to-drink cocktails.
Written by: K. Freeman with files from The Canadian Press
