MLL eyes arbitration to end strike

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This article was published 15/08/2023 (829 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries accepted a conciliator’s recommendation Monday to settle an increasingly bitter month-long strike though binding arbitration, not long after it posted an online notice on a job site for replacement workers to man its Liquor Marts to keep the booze flowing.

However, picket lines will remain outside Liquor Marts as the union that represents the 1,400 workers assesses whether to agree to the conciliator’s proposal.

“If (the union) says no, it will be very disappointing,” said Gerry Sul, president and CEO of the Crown-owned liquor corporation.

“For us, this is a positive development. This has gone on for far too long — 26 days. We’re anxious to end the lockout and end the strike and this provides us with an avenue. It would end, get people back to work, and we would go through the process.”

Kyle Ross, president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union, said more time was needed to make a decision.

“The employer didn’t let us know about it. We heard about it through the media,” Ross said.

“We need to take some time. We want to end the strike too, but we need to protect our members. We’re really hoping to have parameters.”

Last week, the union said the latest contract offer was for four years and included two per cent wage hikes each year and some wage adjustments due to the province’s minimum wage jumping to $15.30 this fall.

The union plans to hold a march in Winnipeg from the Union Centre on Broadway to the legislature for a short rally today at 11:40 a.m., to mark one full week of the strike.

The two sides have been locked in the dispute since mid-July, starting first with rolling strikes, escalating to lockout action by the Crown corporation with managers working the tills, and culminating with a full strike by about 1,400 workers beginning a week ago.

MLL said the conciliator also recommended that all other parts of the Crown corporation’s offer — including pay grade adjustments, one-time, lump-sum payments and benefit enhancements — remain in place “to ensure that all of these significant gains for our employers are preserved while the arbitration process unfolds.”

The corporation’s move earlier in the day to hire replacement workers for half a dozen Liquor Marts was criticized by union members.

The ad, on Workopolis, offered $20 per hour, with training to start on Aug. 21, and included the stores at Hargrave Street and Ellice Avenue, St. Vital Square and Polo Park.

Ross said he received several screenshots taken of the job advertisement by angry picketing liquor workers.

“Our members are very frustrated seeing job postings for more than $5 more per hour than the starting wage,” he said.

“It is really insulting. This strike is about wages. Our starting wages now is $14.91 and they are offering $20 per hour. We’re just looking for an equitable raise.”

The union said a Liquor Mart employee would have to work 4,000 hours to get to $20 on the pay scale, meaning, if they worked 30 hours a week, it would take them two and a half years.

Adam King, an assistant professor in labour studies at the University of Manitoba, said it’s one thing for a private company to hire replacement workers, but another thing for a Crown corporation.

“That’s an especially provocative move,” King said. “For a Crown corporation to use it is particularly provocative.

“There is plenty of evidence it leads to heightened tension, could lead to violence, and sours relations with employers. It adds considerable negative consequences.”

King said it is why the NDP here has said, if elected in the Oct. 3 vote, it will launch consultations about whether the province should remove the ability of employees to do it, while the federal Liberal government has said it is looking at banning it by the end of the year.

Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour, laid the blame for the strike at the feet of the Stefanson government.

“The Conservatives are just out of touch with working people,” Rebeck said. “This has been a problem since the Conservatives got elected. This is the most profitable Crown corporation we have and these are very low entry-level positions. We all see the rising prices at gas stations and grocery stores.

“And (for replacement workers) they offer $20 an hour. Why won’t they offer that at the bargaining table?”

Sul said when they ask an outside agency for replacement workers they rely on them to set the hourly wage needed to encourage people to apply for the temporary positions.

“We want to serve Manitobans and we can’t continue to rely on internal staff to fill the positions. They are tired,” he said.

“Yes, there are optics. It is a last resort, but if you have an obligation to serve Manitobans, you can’t just continue the hardship.”

Sul said many liquor retailers and businesses were just getting back on their feet after the pandemic caused shutdowns and lower sales so a strike is further punishment to them.

When asked about the advertisement for replacement workers, Malaya Marcelino, the NDP’s labour critic, said in a statement: “We’re in this situation because of Heather Stefanson. She could end the strike today if she gets back to the table and negotiates in good faith.”

» Winnipeg Free Press