The union representing LCBO workers says that the province is refusing to sign a return-to-work protocol for its members and that the strike will continue for the time being.
The LCBO announced a tentative agreement with the workers earlier on Friday afternoon, noting that it would allow stores to reopen as early as Tuesday.
But during a press conference later on Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) said that without a signed return-to-work protocol there is no deal.
This is a breaking news update. The earlier story follows below.
The LCBO has reached a tentative agreement with the union representing approximately 10,000 of its employees, paving the way for stores to reopen as early as Tuesday.
The LCBO announced the tentative agreement on Friday afternoon. It says that if ratified the strike will end at 12:01 a.m. Monday. LCBO retail locations would then reopen for in-person shopping the following day.
“The LCBO is now working to prepare our people and operations to return to business as usual,” a statement notes. “We look forward to welcoming our unionized employees back to work in service of Ontarians.”
LCBO stores have been closed since Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) members walked off the job on July 5.
Talks between the two sides resumed for the first time in nearly two weeks on Wednesday and in its statement the LCBO said that a mediator was able to provide “invaluable assistance in helping the parties reach a tentative agreement.”
The details of the tentative agreement were not released.
“We recognize the disruption the strike caused for our employees, partners, and customers who rely on our services, and we thank everyone for their continued patience and understanding as we begin resuming regular operations,” the LCBO said.
Ready-to-drink beverages a point of contention
OPSEU had previously identified the expansion of ready-to-drink beverages into grocery and convenience stores as a major issue for its members.
Premier Doug Ford, however, insisted that his government would not roll back its alcohol expansion plans in order to get a deal.
In fact earlier this week the government moved up its timeline, allowing grocery stores to begin stocking ready-to-drink beverages two weeks ahead of schedule.
“If they want to negotiate over RTD (Ready-To-Drink beverages), the deal is off,” Ford told reporters at a news conference last week. “Let me be very clear. It is done, it is gone. That ship has sailed. It’s halfway across Lake Ontario.”
The LCBO says that specific details about the agreement will only be shared once it is ratified.
This is breaking news story. Updates to follow