LCBO and OPSEU resume talks after tentative deal put on hold

A tentative agreement reached between the LCBO and the union representing its workers Friday was put on hold the same day, with talks continuingon their return to work amid the first strike in the corporation's history.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), which represents about 9,000 liquor store employees, hasdemanded that management sign a return-to-work protocol. The LCBO, which operates more than 680 retail stores, hasaccused the union of bargaining in bad faith.

Both sides announceda tentative agreement had been reached on Friday morningto end the two-week strike.

But by Friday afternoon, OPSEUsaid the LCBO was refusing to sign a return-to-work protocolthat would seeworkersreturn to the jobon Monday.

After a brief news conference by the union, both sides returned again to the bargaining table.

"We can confirm that negotiations on the return-to-work protocol are still ongoing,"Kim Johnston, spokesperson for OPSEU, said in an email on Friday night.

More than 9,000 workers walked off the job on July 5,closingretail outlets across the province.

WATCH | Why LCBO workers are on strike:

Why LCBO workers are on strike

3 months ago

Duration 5:06

More than 9,000 Ontario liquor store employees are on strike after bargaining talks broke down between their union and the LCBO. As CBCs Mike Crawley explains, the union is demanding Doug Fords government reverse its decision to sell some drinks at convenience and grocery stores.

"A return-to-work protocol is necessary for workers to go back to work in the event of a strike," union representative Katie Arnup said at a news conference. "Without that document signed, we do not have a deal. The strike continues."

Less than an hour later,the LCBO released a statement saying the union had introduced a new set of demands "that should have been dealt with at the bargaining table" after a tentative deal was reached. It said it planned to file an unfair labour practice complaint against the union.

"To introduce a new set of demands after reaching a tentative agreement amounts to bad faith bargaining," the statement said.

LCBO releases details of agreement

According to the LCBO, the tentative agreement signed on Fridayincludes wage increases of eight per cent over three years, an additional 7.8 per cent for the lowest-paid workers anda special wage adjustment for certain trade positionsin itswarehouse.

It also includes convertingabout 1,000 casual workers to permanent part-time status,hiring 60 permanent full-timeemployees in its warehouse operationsand improved access to benefits for casual part-time employees who work 1,300 hours and 1,000 hours.

It also includes improved mental health benefits and severance provisions, the Crown corporation said.

The LCBO said the signed agreement provides "no retail store closures related to marketplace expansion for life of the collective agreement." A non-binding joint union-management committee will decide the best way to implement marketplace plans.

Management also agreed to provide letters of agreement to limit LCBO convenience outlets to 400, limit contracting out andincrease the volume of product at warehouses that serveretail outlets by 1.25 millioncases.

Province's planto expandalcohol sales at issue

The union has said Premier Doug Ford'splanto make pre-mixed cocktails readily available across other stores wasat the heart of the negotiations.

The plan will allowall 8,000-plus convenience stores and grocery stores in the province to sell beer, wineand ready-to-drink cocktails.

The union says the expansioncould lead to thousands of job losses for LCBO workers within a few years.

It'salso looking for the province to guarantee wage increasesand isseeking "more stable andpermanent jobs."