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Unionized employees of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a strike should contract talks with the retail giant break down.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which represents more than 7,000 LCBO staff, says 95% of the members voted in favour of a walkout.

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The employees’ four-year contract with the LCBO ended March 31 and the two sides have been in bargaining since mid-February without making any progress.

Contract talks are scheduled to resume today and more bargaining dates are set for later this month and in May.

It is not unusual for a union to have a strike vote during the collective bargaining proces

OPSEU says the key issues include boosting part-time wages and upgrades to health and safety standards.

The provincial Crown corporation says it is disappointed but not surprised with the strike mandate.

“It is not unusual for a union to have a strike vote during the collective bargaining process,” said Bob Peter, LCBO president and CEO.

He said LCBO was looking forward to getting back to the bargaining table and working toward a fair agreement.

Peter noted that OPSEU had a strike mandate twice before during previous collective bargaining in 2005 and 2009. On each occasion, a new contract was successfully reached without a strike, he said.

OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas said there are “no plans to take job action.”

But he added that the 95% vote “should send a pretty powerful message to LCBO management that their own employees are profoundly dissatisfied with the pace of negotiations.”