LCBO stores in Ontario closed as workers go on strike

July 5, 2024July 5, 2024alcoholic baverages, canada, employees on strike, LCBO, LCBO closed, LCBO closures, LCBO on strike, ontario, sales of alcohol

In a significant development, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) has announced the temporary closure of its stores across the province due to a workers’ strike. The move, which impacts numerous communities, comes as LCBO employees walk off the job for the first time in history. The selling of pre-mixed drinks at corner and grocery stores was a major bone of contention in Friday night’s breakdown of negotiations between the Crown agency and the Ontario Public Sector Employees Union (OPSEU).

The Crown corporation has previously stated that its 669 retail locations will remain closed.
The Liquor Control Board expressed its disappointment in the leadership of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), which represents over 9,000 employees, for starting the historic strike in a statement following the deadline of 12:01 a.m. that passed without a deal.

The LCBO announced in a news release on Friday that its retail stores are now closed for a period of 14 days.Free home delivery via online ordering is still available. Stores could reopen as soon as the deal is reached according to OPSEU or the strike could continue beyond the two weeks.

This shocking development will certainly disrupt and upset many shoppers as alcohol is not wide available in other stores. Only certain stores cary alcohol and in a very limited amount. For now, LCBO has the biggest assortment of alcoholic beverages in Ontario and therefore the biggest leverage and monopoly on alcohol sales.

Feelings are mixed among Ontario residents, as LCBO has the biggest assortment of alcoholic beverages and is beloved go to place for majority of alcohol shopping, many believe that alcohol should be accessible and available in off hours to the public as well. Corner stores and stores open 24 hours should have at least some sort of alcohol beverages just in case the home stash dries out. Considering that other countries like USA and most European countries have no restrictions on alcohol sales, Canada and Ontario is far behind those policies.

USA has speciality alcoholic beverage store but every supermarket and corner store can have alcohol beverages as well. In most European countries is the same story, in Germany for instance, there are boutique liquor stores but major of alcoholic beverages are sold in supermarkets and stores dedicated for all kind of drink including alcohol.

How this historical LCBO strike will develop we shall see in the near future. One is certain, many consumers will not be happy about it, regardless on how things with the Crown corporation and OPSEU come to the conclusion.