After warnings that the preliminary agreement reached yesterday between the LCBO and the union representing its workers could fail, both sides now say they have signed a return-to-work protocol.
On Friday afternoon, both the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and the LCBO said they had reached an agreement to bring more than 9,000 workers back to the front lines and reopen liquor stores across Ontario after a prolonged standoff.
The Crown Agency said if the deal is ratified by union members, the strike would end at 12.01am on July 22 and stores would open the next day.
Later in the afternoon, however, the two sides suggested that the tentative agreement – which would still have to be accepted by workers – was on the verge of collapse.
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Both sides went from celebrating the agreement after weeks of deadlock to accusing each other of acting in bad faith.
The union claimed that the LCBO had not signed a return-to-work protocol and could not reach a deal without it.
But now it appears that both sides have settled down and announced early Saturday morning that they have signed a return-to-work protocol that does not include any new monetary items.
In the statement, the Crown office said all unionized employees would return to work on Monday, July 22, and stores would be open to shoppers on Tuesday, July 23, pending ratification.
In an online statement Saturday, the union said it had reached a “preliminary settlement that is a victory for workers and Ontarians.”
The union said a vote to ratify the deal will be held this weekend.
“This tentative agreement protects good jobs in every community and the government revenues generated by the LCBO,” said Colleen MacLeod, chair of the union’s bargaining team. “Workers made it clear to Ontarians that Doug Ford’s alcohol-everywhere plan posed a direct threat to jobs and government revenues. While this round of negotiations will not be over until the deal is ratified, I am incredibly proud of the workers and the stand they have taken.”
With files from Isaac Callan, Aaron D’Andrea & Colin D’Mello of Global News
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