This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
“The public wants to see the LCBO remain a valued public asset that contribute attractive annual dividends to help pay for education, health care and infrastructure.” - Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.
Toronto (07 Jan. 2013) — The union representing more than 7,000 LCBO workers has endorsed the Crown agency’s decision to open ‘Express’ stores in several large grocery stores and to inaugurate boutique outlets for the sale of Ontario quality wines.
“This is a step in the right direction for the future of spirits, wine and beer sales in Ontario,” said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) which represents LCBO workers at retail outlets, distribution centres and at head office. “Consumers have said for years they want the LCBO to remain in public hands, but they also want to see greater convenience and the same high level of social responsibility that the LCBO provides. This approach is balanced and that is what people like to see.”
Thomas said the government’s announcement on December 31, giving the LCBO the green light to open up sales in grocery stores and specialty wine outlets, effectively derails Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak’s reckless pledge to put beer and wine in corner stores and to begin the privatization of the LCBO itself.
“Tim Hudak is on the wrong side of public opinion when it comes to the future of the LCBO,” said Thomas. “The public wants to see it remain a valued public asset that contributes attractive annual dividends to help pay for education, health care and infrastructure.”
Denise Davis, chair of OPSEU’s liquor board employees division, said the LCBO should go one step further and begin repatriating privately-owned and operated “agency” stores once their current contracts expire. Some of these high-revenue outlets are located in major grocery stores already and could easily be converted into regular LCBO retail outlets.
She noted that LCBO Chair Philip Olsson told public hearings in Trenton, Ont., last June that he was prepared to repatriate some agency stores, few of which carry quality Ontario wines or Ontario-produced craft beers.
“With the government’s announcement this week it’s time Mr. Olsson acted on his promise to convert some agency stores into regular LCBO outlets,” said Davis. “As it stands, many of these stores together take in millions in annual private commission fees – monies that more properly should be going to the provincial treasury but which do little for Ontario’s wine industry or craft brewers.”
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE