Empty shelves at Ottawa beer stores as doubt surrounds deal to end LCBO strike

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As a tentative deal to end a two-week-long LCBO strike was thrown into question Friday afternoon, store shelves at beer stores in Ottawa looked nearly bare.

Despite trumpeting a tentative agreement to end the strike just hours earlier, the union representing 10,000 LCBO workers announced that the strike would continue because the employer had refused to sign a return-to-work protocol.

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The LCBO fired back with a statement that it would file an unfair labour practice complaint against the Ontario Public Service Employees Union because it had introduced “significant new monetary demands” after the tentative deal was reached.

The LCBO said in a statement earlier Friday that a tentative agreement had been reached and, if it was ratified, the strike would end at 12:01 a.m. Monday, with stores set to reopen on Tuesday.

Beer Store shelves in Ottawa were lightly stocked or empty in some locations, particularly those that once held imported beers, or products typically purchased at LCBO outlets.

Across the Ottawa River in Gatineau, some SAQ shelves were also sparsely stocked, as Ontarians sought alternative sources for beer, wine and alcohol ahead of a sunny summer weekend.

Between 20 and 25 SAQ retailers close to Ottawa had reported increased traffic since the LCBO strike began.

Linda Bouchard, a media representative for the Quebec agency, said spirits and ready-to-drink products had been particularly popular, and “the shelves empty quickly.

“The SAQ had to adjust its operations and supply these branches more frequently to meet demand,” she said via email Friday.

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OPSEU workers walked off the job at LCBO on July 5. Negotiations resumed Wednesday.

The union said the dispute was largely about Premier Doug Ford’s plan to allow convenience and grocery stores to sell ready-to-drink cocktails, saying expanded sales of the beverages would threaten their job security.

The LCBO said that wasn’t a matter for the bargaining table.

The last offer it made public included wage increases of seven per cent over three years, a special adjustment for certain warehouse positions, improved access to benefits for casual part-timers, conversion of about 400 casual workers to permanent full-time status and improved severance provisions.

During the strike, the Ford government forged ahead with its alcohol sales expansion plans. Ford sped up the date when grocery stores already licensed to sell beer and wine could add the pre-mixed cocktails and coolers to their offerings.

During the strike, the LCBO was fulfilling orders online and for licensees such as bars and restaurants, but those venues said their supplies were becoming strained.

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Maximilien Roy, vice-president of Restaurants Canada, said restaurants and bars in Ottawa and across Ontario were “breathing a sigh of relief” with news of the tentative agreement, but then the deal was thrown into question.

“We’re crossing fingers all the orders from the LCBO to their suppliers goes well in the coming weeks, so it doesn’t last, the reduced selection of products,” he said.

Roy said bars and restaurants had been placing orders for their wine, beer and spirits via an online distribution system, but there was far less selection than usual and products were selling out quickly. On top of that, some restaurants and bars have reported waits of up to 10 days for product deliveries, he added.

“Things are shaping up and we’ve seen improvements since last week,” he said. “We’re grateful for the Ontario government and LCBO for what they’ve been doing, helping small biz like restaurants and bars.”

Ottawa-based restaurants and bars in particular have been busy during the strike, thanks to support from local patrons, Roy said.

With files from The Canadian Press

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