‘Lock her out’: striking liquor workers take dispute to legislature

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This article was published 03/08/2023 (800 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hundreds of union workers shouted “Come out Heather” and “Lock her out” at a boisterous rally at the Manitoba legislature in support of striking Liquor and Lotteries staff Thursday.

As Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union president Kyle Ross called on Manitobans to “fight for fairness,” supporters waved flags representing unions from across Manitoba.

“Life’s a lot more expensive these days, that’s why these politicians’ salaries are tied to the cost of living… It turns out, what’s good for the goose is not good for the gander,” he told the crowd, who booed and shouted “shame” in response.

The union says the Tories, under Premier Heather Stefanson, are to blame for the labour dispute by restricting how much Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, a Crown corporation, can bargain through a set wage mandate.

Some 1,400 liquor workers have not had a contract since March 2022 and want wage raises in line with Premier Heather Stefanson and her cabinet — 3.3 per cent in 2023 and 3.6 per cent in 2024 and 2025.

The current starting wage for MLL workers is $14.91 an hour.

Among the rally speakers was Autumn Hartle, a 15-year Liquor Mart worker in Winnipeg. She and her young daughter took to the podium to explain how what started as a well-paying job has taken a “nosedive” in wages and working conditions over the past several years.

“It’s a lot of sleepless nights. It’s a lot of waking up in the middle of the night. It’s a lot of anxiety… and just feeling like you’re barely above water,” she said. “It’s awful.”

She had strong words for Stefanson and her cabinet, who she said has dragged on negotiations far beyond what she could have imagined weeks ago.

“I’m very, very surprised. I never would have thought that it would have gone on like this,” she said.

“So shame on you, Heather. But here we are, loud and proud.”

MLL has remained steadfast in its counter-offer of two per cent raises over four years, but has promised to raise the starting wage $2.38 an hour above minimum wage should the current agreement be ratified.

MGEU members have gone on rotating strikes at retail Liquor Mart locations and its distribution centre since July 19. Just five retail Liquor Marts were open Thursday, staffed by managers, as retail workers and distribution centre staff took to the picket lines.

While distribution centre workers will stay on strike throughout the long weekend, all stores will reopen and retail staff will be back to work from Friday to Monday, barring any lockouts from the Crown corporation.

Ross called that a show of good faith toward Manitobans who want to sip a bevy or two during the holiday.

“We really want to ensure that our tactics put high pressure on government, and not on regular Manitobans,” he said.

Express locations (Liquor Marts in grocery stores) were closed by MLL Thursday with no indication when they would reopen.

Late Thursday, the Crown corporation said it would lock out employees at three Liquor Marts on Friday: at Dominion Shopping Centre, Transcona Square and Bandon South.

Replacement staff have been hired to cross the picket line at the distribution centre and perform the duties of striking staff.

The MGEU said Thursday they believe replacement staff brought in by private delivery firm Covert Logistics have been offered higher pay than the starting wage for MLL staff.

The Free Press reached out to Covert Logistics, which would determine the rate of pay for its workers, but received no response.

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries said a hiring ad from Covert Logistics for warehouse workers, which lists the rate of pay at $18-22 per hour, was not connected to the current labour dispute, but did not provide further details.

“(MLL) has a longstanding relationship with a small, privately owned local company that was recently awarded a tendered contract with (MLL) for outbound logistics and distribution services — unrelated to the labour dispute,” the spokesperson said in an email.

“The company has since provided some additional warehouse services during the work stoppage to assist the flow of liquor out to our retail stores.”

Manitoba Federation of Labour president Kevin Rebeck said it would advocate for a ban on replacement workers, heading into the Oct. 3 provincial election.

“We think we can win that ban, but it will take a change in government this October,” he told the crowd.

The government didn’t send a representative outside to speak to the crowd.

Several NDP MLAs attended the rally, as did Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont. None of them spoke to the crowd.

In a statement released later, NDP critic Lisa Naylor said: “Heather Stefanson said she’d be different from Brian Pallister, but since Day 1 as premier, she has been picking fights with workers.”

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca