On January 10, 2024 the LBED Bargaining Team, joined by OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick, went to LCBO headquarters to deliver notice to bargain to LCBO President and CEO George Soleas.Mr. Soleas declined to take 5 minutes to meet with the team. That’s ok – we’ll be back.By sending his Labour Relations Director in his place to receive the notice to bargain, Mr. Soleas sent us a clear message about his priorities. President JP Hornick told them to take note – this round of bargaining is going to be different. More than 8,000 LBED members are organized and ready to bargain. Our members deserve to be heard and treated with respect.Our message for LCBO executives, Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy and Premier Doug Ford is clear: we are fully committed to protecting this valuable public asset for all Ontarians.LCBO workers are united and ready to demand the wages and working conditions we deserve.
LCBO workers are mobilizing and organizing to win
Right before the holidays Premier Doug Ford announced that his government will scrap the Master Framework Agreement (MFA) and open the floodgate for big box grocers and gas stations to sell beer, wine, cider and pre-mixed, “ready to drink” cocktails.This makes the work we are doing to mobilize LCBO workers even more critical. We are building power for LCBO workers as we fight back against privatization.More than 5,550 LCBO workers have already signed our petition to keep the LCBO public. 750 have signed up to be leaders and join the biggest-ever organizing committee of LCBO workers.In a show of solidarity and strength, members at the Durham Warehouse are wearing red every Thursday!
And we’re just getting started. In the coming weeks we’re planning an organizing blitz to surpass our goal of members engaged in our campaign.When we bargain, we’re fighting for the public good. When we win, we won’t just be saving good jobs in every corner of this province. We will be putting a stop to another attempted multi-billion-dollar giveaway from our public coffers to Ford’s friends and the people who put him in office.
