The LCBO strike has got the ear of the public and so it should. Not because it involves liquor but because it involves human rights. This is the first strike in the LCBO history and it is a political strike as much as it is a strike over working condition and wages. Not to say this is not a part of it but because the LCBO workers, represented by the OPSEU, did not accept a wage offer that offered a 7% increase over three years, understandable given that annual inflation has been over 7%. The bigger issue is the fact that 70% of the LCBO employees are part-time, which the Union wants changed. In Ontario over 17% of Ontario’s 7.9 million employees are in part time servitude. I can remember a time when there were no part-time workers, and the sun still came up.
Successive Conservative and Liberal governments have overseen the steady unabated rise of part time work which has been a travesty for working people and society in general. It certainly benefited the capitalists and would be capitalists but as Tommy Douglas alluded to in his parable Mouseland, it may have served the black and white cats (liberals and conservatives), but it was awful hard on the mice. People are working two or in some cases three jobs to make a livable wage, have a roof over their heads, have food on the table, and provide for the education of their children. This should not be a part of any advanced economy.
Part time work may have benefitted employers but it is hard on workers who experience a loss of freedom as they lose control over their lives coping with fractured work schedules set without consultation by employers. It also has negative societal impacts as it is difficult to participate in or coach youth sports, volunteer work if you do not live with a set work schedule.
It is not the first time that folksy Ford has made booze part of his election campaign. If you are over 25 and have an iota of memory you will recall Ford promising a buck a beer in his 2018 election platform. Now Ford has put on his barbeque hat and rolled out his barbeque map to help you get your booze while the strike continues costing the province millions.
Resulting from the strike there has been a lot of talk from the far right about privatizing the LCBO which is a totally irresponsible proposition given that the LCBO contributes over $2.5 billion to the Ontario economy each year. Privatization proponents say the money will still be derived because those that profit will pay taxes. Yes, the tax built into the price of our grog will still be paid but with such a decentralized system it will not be as assured. and the profit from which the $2.5 billion is collected will be even less assured. Face it, most of these convenience stores, are chains whose corporate managers and shareholders don’t like paying taxes. The price of privatization (as always) will be a further erosion of public services or an offsetting tax increase.
Don’t think Conservatives, who get a high on privatizing everything will not undertake the privatization of the LCBO. It was the Harris Conservative government that privatized the NDP built Highway 7 for a trifle of its actual value in order to balance their budget. That privatization may have been the biggest economic blunder in the history of the province. So much for the Conservatives supposed being good economic managers – they are not.
The LCBO is a huge liquor retail and wholesale distribution system which has many stakeholders including restauranteurs, bars and the alcohol and wine industry. I expect most of these stakeholders will not support privatization and a great decentralization of supply and distribution. It may have have appeal but purchasing booze from your Mac’s milk store can also come with some pretty heavy social and regulation costs. Are we to have liquor inspectors overseeing the operations of every corner store in the province?
This is a political strike because the Ford government knowingly has made it so. Good for them. This very public political battle is long overdue. And true to fashion the Conservative talk show hosts all across this province are beating their neo-Liberal anti-union drums. They say the Union does not have a right to interfere with government policy because Ford campaigned on putting booze in corner stores and the people gave him a majority which does not really hold water or beer because the majority of the people did not vote for Ford and may not want corner stores to be an enticing target for liquor craving hooligans.
There are 9000 LCBO workers out on strike because of Fords asinine policies. Every worker in the province should be supporting them. Honk your horn and walk and talk to them. They are the good guys fighting for you and against part time servitude.
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