Most Liquor Marts closed during one-day strike

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This article was published 19/07/2023 (812 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Some Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corp. employees will take to picket lines for a second day, after their union promised Wednesday’s province-wide walkout wouldn’t be the last step on the road to obtain a “fair deal” with the government.

More than 1,400 liquor workers and Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union members walked off the job Wednesday, amid working under an expired contract since March 2022.

Impacted employees at the liquor distribution centre on King Edward Street in Winnipeg will continue taking strike action Thursday, MGEU later announced.

The day-long effort shut down all but seven provincially-run Liquor Marts. Six locations in Winnipeg and one in Brandon were staffed by managers from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The MLL website included a notice telling shoppers “product selection and available inventory may be limited” as a result of the strike action.

A spokesperson told the Free Press the Crown corporation would not be commenting on the walk-out or negotiations.

Liquor workers that are part of the MGEU bargaining unit are already refusing all overtime until further notice.The union will consider further action if a deal isn’t made at the bargaining table Friday, MGEU president Kyle Ross said.

“I can’t say what the plans are, that’s really up to the committee. But, yes, there will continue to be job action until we can find a deal,” he said. “There’s a fair deal out there, and we’re just trying to get there. And, unfortunately, it came to this.”

MLL has offered affected workers wage increases of two per cent per year over four years, along with wage bumps for those at the end of the pay scale to ensure they are in line with provincial minimum-wage increases.

However, it’s not enough to keep up with the cost of living, and staff are leaving to work at big box stores that pay more, Ross said.

MGEU wants liquor workers to be offered the level of raises Manitoba MLAs and Premier Heather Stefanson are set to receive, which began with 3.3 per cent this year, and a further 3.6 per cent in 2024 and 2025.

“If it’s fair for them, it’s fair for us, and we believe it is fair,” Ross said. “If we’re not gaining ground, then, it’s actually keeping everybody’s buying power the same. It’s a fair, reasonable response.”

“These workers worked through the (COVID-19) pandemic. These workers worked through all the crime in the stores,” the labour leader said. “They were deemed heroes and critical to Manitoba during the pandemic and they’re not seeing the fruition from that work.”

Government Services Minister James Teitsma was careful in his comments on the job action Wednesday, saying negotiations are between the MGEU and MLL, rather than with the government.

“We encourage both parties to stay at the table to negotiate, that’s where a deal will be done. Certainly, our government does not want a strike, does not want to see a strike in any sector,” Teitsma said at an unrelated news conference.

Striking workers took to Liquor Mart locations — both open and closed — throughout the day, carrying signs with slogans including: “Two per cent is for milk” and “If 3.3 per cent is fair for Heather, it’s fair for us.”

Information sheets explaining the action were handed out to shoppers and passers-by.

A maintenance technician who has worked as a repairman for MLL locations for 13 years said the job was a fair one when he started, but has quickly become unfair over the past four years. The man and his son both work for MLL, and it’s forced them to make difficult choices to make ends meet, he said.

“I’m skipping meals, I’m not eating properly. Instead of eating properly, I’m having to put gas in my vehicle,” the man, who wished to stay anonymous due to potential work issues, said while on the picket line. “There’s a lot of things that are factors, but definitely the wage increases. We need something. I’m having a real tough time living.”

The MLL employee said he’s willing to strike, if that’s what it takes to reach an improved deal. “They keep pushing more and more on us, but the higher-ups, they seem to get all their wages increased.”

While many people did not initially know of the strike action, support and solidarity seemed to be the general consensus of shoppers visiting Liquor Marts throughout the day.

A customer walking into the Leila Avenue location in Winnipeg said he’d seen the MGEU members’ signage when he arrived and was supportive.

“(MLL) earnings, it’s not only for the company to enjoy that, they should also share that to their employees,” he said.

At the open location on Ellice Avenue, a customer read the handout given to her by an MGEU member with concern. The woman said if she knew liquor workers were walking out Wednesday, she wouldn’t have come.

She said she would boycott Liquor Marts, if the retail workers walk out again.

“I will not come here. I’ll go to a private wine store,” she said. “I didn’t know, because, honestly, the wages are harsh, and they should have at least offered something.”

— with files from Erik Pindera

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca