The Bar Towel

Posted: **Sun May 24, 2009 11:19 am**

My guess of a 90+ percentage strike vote was correct.

We have voted an overwhelmingly 93% in favor of a strike. The employer has decided to start bargaining again on Tuesday.

Posted: **Sun May 24, 2009 1:56 pm**

At the risk of escalating the political tensions here

I hope they do strike. I hope it's long and painful for everyone (like the strikes I experienced when I was in union jobs) and I hope the union keeps up its demands and combativeness with this stingy top heavy monopoly.

Because every negative event like this is one step closer to privatization/out sourcing/private franchising.

The union is unwittingly becoming a prime justification for LCBO liqudating to a private distribution system (can you imagine the revenue from selling LCBO properties to private buyers?).... selling troublesome retail and warehousing holdings and licencing the private independent operators ... LCBO converting to a sole import wholesaler/excise/licencing authority...leaner, more revenue less overhead expense.....delicious to watch history repeat itself in this province.

Posted: **Sun May 24, 2009 5:03 pm**

pootz wrote:At the risk of escalating the political tensions here I hope they do strike. I hope it's long and painful for everyone (like the strikes I experienced when I was in union jobs) and I hope the union keeps up its demands and combativeness with this stingy top heavy monopoly.

Because every negative event like this is one step closer to privatization/out sourcing/private franchising.

if harris didn't privatize the lcbo, it ain't ever going to happen. not saying i'm content with the way things work, just being realistic.

Posted: **Mon May 25, 2009 10:35 am**

tuqueboy wrote: if harris didn't privatize the lcbo, it ain't ever going to happen. not saying i'm content with the way things work, just being realistic.

The PCs never privatize anything, they are liberals.

I think the LCBO actually started getting better when Harris was in. I think he scarred them or something.

Posted: **Mon May 25, 2009 11:36 am**

Harris "scarred" just about everyone in the province.

Posted: **Mon May 25, 2009 11:42 am**

$ wrote:The PCs never privatize anything, they are liberals.

Highway 407.

Posted: **Mon May 25, 2009 1:32 pm**

The_Jester wrote:Harris "scarred" just about everyone in the province.

Heheh.

I'm with pootz. LCBO employees would be opening up a debate they can't win.

Posted: **Tue May 26, 2009 11:04 am**

lister wrote:
$ wrote:The PCs never privatize anything, they are liberals.
Highway 407.

ya, before it was even finished.

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2009 12:21 pm**

Looks like LCBO workers could be on strike by Wednesday. Time to stock up, maybe?

Strike looms at LCBO

Nice timing.

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2009 12:29 pm**

Wheatsheaf wrote:Looks like LCBO workers could be on strike by Wednesday. Time to stock up, maybe?

Strike looms at LCBO

Nice timing.

Timing is everything, and is another tool that the we, the members can use as leverage in dealing with the employer.

Let me be the first to say that a very large majority of LCBO staffers DO NOT want a strike. Our demands this period are quite modest, and I am actually surprised the employer has not agreed to our terms yet.

For some reason, they can't afford to give us a very modest cost of living wage increase of about 2%, but they can afford to pay over 120 people, $100,000 and some, up to wages of $400,000. Most store managers are even getting bonuses of $10-20,000 per annum.

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2009 12:50 pm**

SteelbackGuy wrote:Timing is everything, and is another tool that the we, the members can use as leverage in dealing with the employer.

Just a hunch, but I'd say that public sympathy for striking public workers--any workers--is going to be inversely related to the amount of garbage that piles up in Toronto. Seems like a daft time for LCBO workers to strike, but that's just my opinion.

SteelbackGuy wrote:but they can afford to pay over 120 people, $100,000 and some, up to wages of $400,000. Most store managers are even getting bonuses of $10-20,000 per annum.

I see no justification for that, either.

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2009 12:59 pm**

Wheatsheaf wrote:
SteelbackGuy wrote:Timing is everything, and is another tool that the we, the members can use as leverage in dealing with the employer.
Just a hunch, but I'd say that public sympathy for striking public workers--any workers--is going to be inversely related to the amount of garbage that piles up in Toronto. Seems like a daft time for LCBO workers to strike, but that's just my opinion.

SteelbackGuy wrote:but they can afford to pay over 120 people, $100,000 and some, up to wages of $400,000. Most store managers are even getting bonuses of $10-20,000 per annum.
I see no justification for that, either.

Agreed. It certainly is a silly time, but we now belong to OPSEU and as such, we have to play by their rules now. They have called the strike deadline. It is unfortunate that is coincides with others that are on strike at this time.

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:40 pm**

Wheatsheaf wrote:
I see no justification for that, either.

I personally see no justification in paying LCBO workers more than minimum wage.

I am securely strapped to the LCBO strike bandwagon.

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:55 pm**

DragonOfBlood wrote:
I am securely strapped to the LCBO strike bandwagon.

I guess I am too if it means it will turn public opinion against the ridiculous liquor monopoly. Short term pain for long term gain.

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:57 pm**

kwjd wrote:
DragonOfBlood wrote:
I am securely strapped to the LCBO strike bandwagon.
I guess I am too if it means it will turn public opinion against the ridiculous liquor monopoly. Short term pain for long term gain.

Exactly. The bigger picture is what's important here. If that noodle spined wimp McGuinty was serious about saving small businesses private retail of alcohol would already be in the works.