Windsor bars and micro brews brace for LCBO strike
With the province's liquor store workers prepared to walk off the job Monday, those in the business of alcohol are bracing for the worst.
Breweries are ramping up production, while bar owners are stocking their supply space with up to four times as much booze as they normally would.
Thousands of unionized LCBO employees will be in legal strike position by 12:01 a.m. Monday. Workers are in negotiations with the provincial government over part-time work. The union says 80 per cent of employees are part-time and argues many have worked years without job security or benefits.
The looming job action was the motivation several new customers popped into Brew Microbrewery, just east of the city's downtown core, on Friday. In case the supply of alcohol dries up at the LCBO, they were getting samples of what else is out there.
"I'll just come to more of these places that sell custom beer," said Matthew Ewing of the possible job action.
Brew staff expect more customers, if the liquor store shuts its door next week. In anticipation, they are packaging far more product for the retail part of the shop.
"We will have plenty of brew to go," said Joshua Goure.
Several bar owners have ramped up their orders from the liquor store, just in case the strike stretches into several weeks. The group that own the Bull and Barrel, the City Grill and the Pub Club have doubled, tripled and in one location quadrupled their orders.
"We'll be properly stocked," said Matt Komsa, one of the owners. "Without a doubt we've increased our inventory."
