LCBO workers show it's right to strike

LCBO workers, members of OPSEU, ratified a new contract with the LCBO on July 21 after an historic two-week strike. The workers pushed back on the Ford government’s agenda to bust their union and completely privatize the LCBO.  

 

Picket lines around the province were solid and the strike got huge support from the community and the labour movement. Both public and private sector union members helped shut down retail and warehouse operations foiling Ford’s promise to get LCBO products to retailers, despite the strike.

 

The strike exposed the privatization agenda of the Ford government. It ignited a public debate about why it matters to save the LCBO—which brings in $2.5 billion in revenue to Ontario’s coffers a year—and again exposed Ford’s connections with the billionaires. It compounded public anger and frustration at a Ford government that is actively handing over public assets to his corporate buddies. 

 

The mood was upbeat at the final picket line shift as people awaited the results of the ratification vote. Strikers were feeling very positive about the experience of the strike, the camaraderie on the lines, the solidarity from the public, and standing up to Ford. 

 

But, they also recognize the shortfalls of the deal. Wages increases of 8% over three years for example, are better than what the employer initially offered, but still below inflation. ‘This is what we felt we could get’ was a comment by many people on the line. 

 

LCBO workers pushed back what they believed to be an existential threat to the LCBO and their livelihoods, an important win. But, Ford, was able to hive off one section of products, premixed cocktails, that had been exclusively handled by the LCBO for the big grocery wholesalers and retailers. 

 

Under the terms of the early end of the large brewers' Beer Store monopoly, they will be able to get a wholesaler discount of 10% on LCBO products, which will undercut the LCBO retail stores, but also the mom and pop stores and independent grocers who won't be able to buy wholesale. So Ford's government has been slowed down but not stopped in its plan to privatize this public asset for the benefit of the big grocery oligarchs.

 

The lesson is that it is absolutely right for the workers to use the strike weapon to try and save decent jobs and public services. Yet there was the potential for much more if the union leaders and the OFL could unite strikes to create a larger front against the bosses. 

 

As Ford continues to attack workers and the public sector, uniting the fightback will be of utmost importance in the days ahead. 

 

Pic: Opseu twitter