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LCBO stores remain open! Tentative settlement reached

 A tentative contract agreement has been reached averting a strike by LCBO workers that was set to begin at midnight
lcbo north bay worthington st turl 2017
LCBO workers at the Worthington St. location will be on the job as a tentative labour agreement was announed at midnight. . Photo by Jeff Turl.

LCBO employees at the three North Bay locations will join their co-workers across Ontario behind the counter this morning as it's business as usual at the government liquor outlets. 

 A tentative contract agreement has been reached averting a strike by LCBO workers that was set to begin at midnight.

The agreement was signed shortly after the strike deadline passed, and was announced in a release from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

Union president Smokey Thomas said details of the accord would not be released before union members have a chance to examine it over the next few days. Thomas says the deal “comes as the result of the tireless efforts of these members, both at the bargaining table and across the province.”

A ratification vote has not yet been scheduled, but Thomas said the union's bargaining team is unanimously recommending members accept the deal.  From there, it would go to the LCBO board and the provincial government for ratification.

The agreement was negotiated with the help of a mediator who imposed a media blackout on the talks.

“I want to thank these workers for taking a stand against the negative impacts of precarious work, which is a sad fact of life for far too many workers today,” said Thomas. “Across Ontario, far too many people are stuck in low-wage, part-time, contract positions. We saw over the course of these negotiations that challenging that precarity was an issue that resonated for many in the public.

The 8,000 unionized LCBO workers have been without a contract since March 31, and voted 93 per cent in favour of a strike in April.

The LCBO had extended store hours for its outlets the past couple of days to allow customers more time to stock up in case there was a job action.

With files from the Canadian Press


Jeff Turl

About the Author: Jeff Turl

Jeff is a veteran of the news biz. He's spent a lengthy career in TV, radio, print and online, covering both news and sports. He enjoys free time riding motorcycles and spoiling grandchildren.
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