LCBO workers vote overwhelmingly in favour of a strike

Liquor Control Board of Ontario staff have voted 93 percent in favour of a strike as their union continues to bargain for anew collective agreement.

Voting by members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Unionwas held Monday and Tuesday.

Denise Davis, the head of the OPSEU bargaining team, says theywill now return to negotiations with a strong mandate from theworkers.

The vote was called by the union in late March after what theydescribed as management's "complete lack of respect for workers."

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

OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas says he hopes the strikevote will "wake up this management team to the reality of thesituation."

"The people of Ontario built the LCBO, paid for the LCBO, and own the LCBO. We're not about to let the Wynnegovernment destroy itthrough this piecemeal privatization."

The union represents 7,500 LCBO staff whose last contract expired on March 31.