London – This Saturday afternoon, members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) at the LCBO are set to keep the momentum of their anti-privatization campaign going with an information picket in London. It will be the third picket by OPSEU members campaigning against what they’ve termed as the Ontario government’s agenda of “privatization by the back door.”
Date: Saturday, September 10, 2016
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m
Place: Outside LCBO Store #575, 1073 Wellington Rd., London
“People are not only receptive to our message,” said Robin Reath, OPSEU Local 163 president, “they’re really behind us. There are a lot of Ontarians who know that putting beer and wine in grocery stores is privatization, pure and simple, and that privatization spells disaster for the funding of public services.”
Beer has been available in 60 grocery stores province-wide since December, and wine will be on shelves in October. The LCBO also recently launched lcbo.com, and customers can now have alcohol delivered directly to their doors. OPSEU is concerned about the risks posed to society with increasing availability of alcohol, and the public health and social costs associated with alcohol-related harms.
“We don’t think it’s too late to change things. We are continuing the fight against the government’s reckless liberalization and piecemeal privatization,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas.
“Monday’s Throne speech is the Premier’s opportunity to press the stop button on the liberalization and privatization of alcohol. Here’s hoping she finally hears Ontarians telling her again and again what they want, and that she does the right thing.”
Members of Local 163 invite the public to join the picket and show their support. The members will be handing out information leaflets, as well as asking supporters to sign postcards addressed to the Premier.
For more information: Robin Reath, 519-643-8539