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This article was published 19/11/2014 (2132 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A dry Christmas season?

In their dispute with the government over a new collective agreement, workers at provincial liquor stores are even considering job action on one of the busiest days of the year -- the Nov. 30 Grey Cup game.

This week, 820 members of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (GOLICO locals 56-61) rejected the government's final offer by 98.3 per cent and will hold a strike vote Nov. 27 to Dec. 2.

A strike deadline could be set to coincide with the pre-Christmas booze-buying rush.

Other public-sector unions are watching talks. They fear they could be next as the Selinger government cuts spending in an attempt to be out of deficit before the next election in April 2016. The deficit for the 2013-14 fiscal year was $522 million -- $4 million higher than budgeted -- and the projected deficit for 2014-15 is $357 million.

'There is nothing generous in a one per cent wage increase after two years of zero per cent increases' ‐ MGEU in recent bulletin to members

Today's throne speech is expected to give an indication of just how far the provincial government could rein in spending in the coming year.

If the governing New Democrats take a hard line on wage increases, it would be the second time in four years organized labour has been asked to help balance the budget, which has been in the red since 2009.

The government did not make anyone available to speak to the Free Press on Wednesday.

In February 2010, then-finance minister Rosann Wowchuk asked the unions to take a two-year wage freeze.

"I can't tell you why they've come with some of the stuff they've come with -- we're just surprised that it's there," MGEU president Michelle Gawronsky said.

The union says Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries made a final offer to the bargaining committee Oct. 22 that included a modest wage increase over four years. It hinges on members agreeing to give up several contract provisions in place for 50 years and accept a new benefits plan for 2016.

It's believed the offer included a two per cent wage hike, but half of that increase would supposedly be made up by savings through the new benefits plan. The union says it would see Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries take away the existing sick-time provision and replace it with something more difficult for employees to accrue and use, and is valued at 66 per cent less than the current package.

"There is nothing generous in a one per cent wage increase after two years of zero per cent increases," the MGEU said in a recent bulletin to members. GOLICO represents Manitoba Liquor Control Commission employees in the Crown corporation's retail, head office and distribution centre.

As the province's wholesaler and distributor of liquor, MLCC's distribution centre serves more than 1,700 commercial customers across Manitoba, including 260 private beer vendors, 56 liquor marts, 174 private liquor vendors and eight specialty wine stores.

Gawronsky declined to reveal what the union has proposed, saying the hope is to get back to the table to continue negotiations before Nov. 27.

"Our members are not interested in concessions," she said, adding the turnout by members to reject the government's offer was the best in more than decade.

"It's not that there was one group of workers in particular that wasn't happy, it was everyone."

Gawronsky said when the merger of Manitoba Lotteries and MLCC was announced in April 2012, MLCC workers agreed to extend their collective agreement by one year -- with no wage increase.

"They were really hoping to get some concrete bargaining done," she said.

What's also stung MLCC employees is government has recently bragged the merged liquor and lotteries corporation will save more than $36 million through amalgamation, including about $26.5 million in savings of pension liability, to be returned to the province in the 2014-15 budget year.

At the same time, MLCC continues to perform better than expected thanks in part to a government-ordered price increase for beer and spirits last year. The MLCC surpassed its revenue target for the 2013-14 fiscal year, turning over $284.1 million to the province. The target was $278.4 million.

"It's not like they can cry poor on this one," Gawronsky said.

The union admits its current contract is richer than those for other public employees, including stronger language for hours of work, vacation, retirement allowance and a retiree health spending account.

Gawronsky said several other public-sector unions are also at the bargaining table with the province. They include civil service employees, health-care support workers and workers at the University College of the North in The Pas and Thompson.

bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca

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