Your union bargaining team has set June 24 as the strike deadline in contract talks with the LCBO.
“This week we went back to the bargaining table with high hopes that last week’s 93 per cent strike vote would convince the LCBO to bargain seriously on the main issues in this round,” OPSEU team chair Vanda Klumper said this afternoon. “Unfortunately that has not happened.
Some bargaining did take place this week, Klumper said, but there was no indication that the employer was prepared to address the members’ main priorities. The employer bargaining team was unavailable for negotiations next week.
The union team applied for a “No Board” report this afternoon to start the clock ticking towards the legal strike date.
“The job of all members right now is to get ready for strike action,” Klumper said. “We do not want to go on strike, but the better prepared we are and the more visible your support for your bargaining team is, the more likely it is that the employer will bargain seriously without us going on strike.”
OPSEU leadership from every Liquor Board local in the province will be in Toronto for strike training June 1-2. Local leaders will have more information to share with members afterwards.
“There is no union in Canada that is better at running strikes than we are, and we have won some damn good collective agreements through strike action,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “What’s more important is that we have won hundreds of contract battles without going on strike – just because the employer knew we were ready to.”
Negotiations are scheduled to resume June 8-10 and then go from June 15 up to the strike deadline.
Meet your mobilizers!
OPSEU mobilizers are your co-workers at the LCBO. They’re the direct link between you and your bargaining team. The following people are assigned as mobilizers in the OPSEU locals indicated.
Guy Jeremschuck: Local 162
Dave Holmes: Local 1633
Mike Robertson: Local 164
Mike Sullivan: Local 165
Bonnie Jolley: Local 284
Paula Sossi: Local 285
Deb Altoft: Local 286
Shawn Swayze: Local 287
Matt Savelli: Local 287
Frank Gullace: Local 288
Maria Bauer: Locals 375, 3766
Doug Parks: Locals 377, 378
Eileen Allen: Local 379
Terri Taylor: Locals 497, 498
Devon Ford: Locals 499, 4100
Kevin Ramsay: Locals 5107, 5110
Roberto Ianni: Locals 5108, 5111
Craig Hadley: Locals 5109, 5110, 5111
Mellisa Jackson: All Locals in OPSEU Region 6
Anne Makela: All Locals in Region 7
Your bargaining team
The OPSEU bargaining team for the Liquor Board Employees Division consists of seven members:
Vanda Klumper, Chair, OPSEU Local 165 [email protected]
Denise Davis, Vice-Chair, Local 378 [email protected]
Dora Robinson, Local 376 [email protected]
Tracy Vyfschaft, Local 377 [email protected]
Lori Davis, Local 499 [email protected]
Colleen MacLeod, Local 5107 [email protected]
Laurie Miller, Local 682 [email protected]
The bargaining team is assisted by OPSEU Senior Negotiator Rob Field, Senior Researcher Joyce Hansen, and other assigned staff.
Stay informed
As negotiations pick up speed, make it your priority to stay on top of bargaining news.
1. Attend upcoming bargaining information meetings.
2. Receive this bargaining bulletin (and our regular newsletter, the Echo) directly by e-mail. Just call OPSEUdirect at 1-800-268-7376 or (416) 443-8888 and give the operator your name and e-mail address.
EAP Hotline: 1-800-263-1401
The LCBO Employee Assistance Program is a confidential, hassle-free counseling service for eligible LCBO employees and their immediate families. For assistance, call 1-800-263-1401.
Your 2009 Bargaining Bulletin is authorized for distribution by:
Vanda Klumper, Chair,
Liquor Board Employees Division
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President, OPSEU
Ontario Public Service Employees Union