LCBO management extending store hours ahead of strike deadline

The LCBO will be keeping its doors open longer in the days ahead of a potential strike by its 9000 unionized workers on July 5.

An internal memo obtained by 680 NewsRadio states that stores will be open between 9:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. between June 27 and July 4.

The only exceptions being July 1 when all LCBO stores will be closed for Canada Day, and Sunday June 30 when stores will close at their usual time, though they will open earlier at 9:30 a.m.

LCBO management confirms the extended hours are directly related to the potential strike action, telling 680 NewsRadio in a statement: “We will be extending hours to ensure the best possible service in the face of a union strike.”

OPSEU, representing LCBO workers, says it’s concerned about the Ford government’s move to start selling alcohol in convenience stores this September, worried the move could siphon jobs away from the LCBO.

Retailers, including convenience stores and gas stations, will be able to start selling alcoholic beverages as of Sept. 4.

The products will be able to be sold between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Those sale hours are also available to LCBO stores.

During a news conference this past Tuesday, OPSEU president JP Hornick explained.

“The employer has refused to expand those hours because they don’t want to actually provide those hours to employees so they’d rather contract amount to the stores that are these corner stores rather than use the resource that we have and enhance it.”