Long lines expected at LCBO

Updated With a midnight strike deadline looming just in time for the Victoria Day long weekend, LCBO stores are likely going to be very busy today.

Four years ago on the eve of a threatened walkout, the LCBO had its largest sales day at $56 million. That strike was averted.

The nearly 7,000 unionized workers have set a strike deadline of midnight tonight. The major issue, according to the union, is part-time and temporary work.

There hasn’t been a strike in the 86 year history of the LCBO, and the government and the LCBO say they are hopeful a deal will be reached in time to avoid a walkout. However a contingency plan is in place.

Today on Morning Live Steve Howse with the DeGroote School of Business told CHCH News this recent threat by the union, just before the long weekend, only adds to the argument the agency should be privatized.

“They’ve done it out west, they’ve done it in Alberta, Quebec’s kind of a hybrid and it works really well there. It’s definitely something that would happen, it’s more a Conservative government type of thing so it wouldn’t happen under the present regime.”

“But it makes sense. Privatize it, you’re going to get more quality coming in, you’re going to get more diverse relationships with other parts of the world, and it’s more sustainable.”

Howse said the governments would make the money on taxation of the product, rather than on markup.

Beer stores, wineries in the Niagara region, and private wine stores in grocery stores will not be affected.