LCBO says stock up for Victoria Day weekend as strike looms

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario is encouraging people to stock up early for the first holiday weekend of the summer as unionized employees prepare to walk off the job.

"Customers entertaining [Victoria Day weekend] can avoid any possible service disruptions by shopping our stores early and stocking up," said LCBO senior vice-president Bob Clevely in a release.

In early April, LCBO employees voted 95 per cent in favour of a strike mandate.

Majority of LCBO workers vote in favour of strike

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which represents more than 7,000 LCBO workers, said key issues on the table are boosting part-time wages, as well as upgrades to health and safety standards.

The employees' four-year contract with the LCBO ended March 31 and the union said a few weeks ago that "very little progress" had been made at the bargaining table.

Negotiations between the two sides are ongoing.

Strike deadline set ahead of Victoria Day weekend

OPSEU voted in favour of a strike mandate twice before during collective bargaining in 2005 and 2009. Both times a deal was reached before the deadline.

LCBO workers could walk off the job as early as May 17.