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LCBO strike looms for Wednesday
Some local bars have stocked up on booze
http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2009/06/22/9892206.html
Ottawa bar owners have been stocking up on wine and hard liquor, arming themselves for a possible LCBO strike Wednesday.
And if the strike lasts too long and they run out, customers will have to switch their margarita for beer.
“We’ll always have something to sell,” said Patty’s Pub manager Gilles Leclair.
Leclair has enough wine and booze stockpiled — in a secret location — to keep the bar stocked for two months.
He’s anticipating customers, who are unable to get their alcohol from the liquor store, will head to bars, making the already busy summer season busier.
“We’ll be busier for a short time until we run out,” he said.
If the Liquor Commission Board of Ontario and its workers don’t reach a deal by midnight Wednesday, its 7,200 unionized workers will walk out.
Union officials say they plan to stop alcohol from flowing by picketing truckers and warehouses.
A main sticking point has been the LCBO’s move toward a more casual workers from permanent, full-time jobs. Other issues are sick days, vacation, retirement and wages.
“If the LCBO insists on destroying good permanent jobs, if it insists on crushing the hopes and dreams of our casual members, then we will not hesitate to take this battle to the streets,” Vanda Klumper, chairwoman of the bargaining team, said in release.
People in the bar industry are already talking privatization if the strike goes on too long, Leclair said, noting when the Quebec government went out it lasted five months.
Mayflower Restaurant assistant manager Jason Garner had just finished placing an extra large order Monday afternoon.
How long it will last will depend on the length of the strike and the crowd that descends on the Elgin St. bar on Canada Day.
“It will be extremely inconvenient for anybody in the restaurant industry, it’ll be bad enough for the individuals.”
LCBO spokesman Chris Layton is optimistic an eleventh-hour settlement will be reached.
Taxpayers demand the LCBO run the business efficiently and it would cost $15 million to make all casual employees full time this year. Employing casuals also helps the agency staff stores during busy times of the year, like in the run up before Christmas.
The LCBO is anticipatng a two-and-a-half per cent drop in net sales this year and the negotiations have to reflect the current economic conditions, said Layton.
“You can’t negotiate through a rearview mirror.”
beth.johnston@sunmedia.ca
Some local bars have stocked up on booze
http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2009/06/22/9892206.html
Ottawa bar owners have been stocking up on wine and hard liquor, arming themselves for a possible LCBO strike Wednesday.
And if the strike lasts too long and they run out, customers will have to switch their margarita for beer.
“We’ll always have something to sell,” said Patty’s Pub manager Gilles Leclair.
Leclair has enough wine and booze stockpiled — in a secret location — to keep the bar stocked for two months.
He’s anticipating customers, who are unable to get their alcohol from the liquor store, will head to bars, making the already busy summer season busier.
“We’ll be busier for a short time until we run out,” he said.
If the Liquor Commission Board of Ontario and its workers don’t reach a deal by midnight Wednesday, its 7,200 unionized workers will walk out.
Union officials say they plan to stop alcohol from flowing by picketing truckers and warehouses.
A main sticking point has been the LCBO’s move toward a more casual workers from permanent, full-time jobs. Other issues are sick days, vacation, retirement and wages.
“If the LCBO insists on destroying good permanent jobs, if it insists on crushing the hopes and dreams of our casual members, then we will not hesitate to take this battle to the streets,” Vanda Klumper, chairwoman of the bargaining team, said in release.
People in the bar industry are already talking privatization if the strike goes on too long, Leclair said, noting when the Quebec government went out it lasted five months.
Mayflower Restaurant assistant manager Jason Garner had just finished placing an extra large order Monday afternoon.
How long it will last will depend on the length of the strike and the crowd that descends on the Elgin St. bar on Canada Day.
“It will be extremely inconvenient for anybody in the restaurant industry, it’ll be bad enough for the individuals.”
LCBO spokesman Chris Layton is optimistic an eleventh-hour settlement will be reached.
Taxpayers demand the LCBO run the business efficiently and it would cost $15 million to make all casual employees full time this year. Employing casuals also helps the agency staff stores during busy times of the year, like in the run up before Christmas.
The LCBO is anticipatng a two-and-a-half per cent drop in net sales this year and the negotiations have to reflect the current economic conditions, said Layton.
“You can’t negotiate through a rearview mirror.”
beth.johnston@sunmedia.ca
