LCBO staff to vote on whether to strike over 'creeping privatization'

Liquor Control Board of Ontario staff represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union will be holding a strike vote on April 24 and 25.

The union has long railed against the government's move to sellbeer, wine and cider in grocery stores, calling it "creeping privatization."

At the bargaining table, OPSEU says the LCBO is demanding"concessions" that it will not accept, and says major concerns include job security, scheduling and health and safety.

OPSEU has asked the Ministry of Labour to appoint a conciliator and if those discussions fail, it can start the clock toward a strike.

The union represents 7,500 LCBO staff whose collective agreementexpired March 31.

The LCBO says it is committed to reaching a negotiated agreementand is still optimistic that will happen.

There are 130 grocery stores in Ontario now selling beer andcider -- with 70 of those also selling wine -- and the government intends to expand that to up to 450.