LCBO workers picketing against liberalizing alcohol

Pickering – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) – the union representing LCBO employees – today announced it will picket, for a second time, at an LCBO store in Pickering against the privatization and liberalization of alcohol sales in the province.

OPSEU has been critical of the government’s decision to liberalize alcohol sales without investigating the potential risks, said the release.

Concern lingers surrounding the sudden rolling out of online sales for the LCBO. While OPSEU members of the LCBO have continuously supported improving services for customers in a safe and responsible way, they are still unsure about how social responsibility will be maintained under the initiative, the announcement added.

“I’m worried about people who struggle with or are recovering from alcoholism,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “When someone is walking through the grocery store to get some milk, and they walk right by a fridge full of beer, how hard will that be for them? Especially when the average person grocery shops weekly.”

Picketing will occur on Thursday August 25, 2017 at LCBO store #776 at 1899 Brock Rd in Pickering.