LCBO strike

[GameBoy27]

Let me preface this with I have a love/hate relationship with the LCBO. My top complaint is prices are too high, especially compared to the US.

But there's some aspects I do like. As a fan of red wine, I like how they have a new vintages release with wines from around the work every two weeks. They also have a tasting counter at many locations where you can sample some of the new wines, sparkling and spirits for a small fee. The vintages guys at my local LCBO don't even charge me anymore because they know I always purchase something.

Then there's the fact you can return any bottle if it's corked, off taste or if I simply didn't like it for a full refund. I've even broken a bottle (more than once) and simply returned the sealed to with the receipt and they replaced it N/C.

If the LCBO were to privatize, selection would drop and I highly doubt you could return a bottle because you didn't like it.

Great article from an employee

http://globalnews.ca/news/3549122/c...-union-is-telling-you-employees-have-it-made/

And a great reply from a current employee.

Very misleading Andrew and out of date. I am not commenting on the issues that relate to the strike. I do take issue with your public statements about working at the LCBO. They do not reflect the current climate. New employees do not make 50% over minimum. You would have to work over 5 years to make $20 an hour today. We will get fired if we take alcohol, in fact, we will get fired for taking one of those sample add-ons that come with the purchase of a product.

We have a dress code that must be adhered to. This dress code is determined by head office. Cashiers who are short do not have to pay "less than half" of their shortage. We have product knowledge and customer service standards that must be met. It seems your experience is not an example of what goes on today; however, you did not take the time to research the current state of affairs at this company. I find your comments irresponsible and self-entitled. How much do they pay you to do work so sloppy? It seems to me that the issue has always been your attidude and not the LCBO workplace.

Those who do earn top wages only do cash as backup because they are busy with the responsiblilites of shipping/ receiving [and at the volume that the LCBO does this is a highly responsible position], merchandising and leading a shift. No one gets paid $57,000 just to do cash. Really Andrew... You wouldn't last a minute at the LCBO today. Shame on you for using your public voice to kevetch.

Please take the time to inform yourself before you write. Using casual labour to sustain businesses is epidemic in our society. The universities we send our children to are another example of how business [yes education is a business] uses this unfair practice. Unpaid internships are as well. The underlying issues effect the economics of our society. Given your sloppy and irresponsible reporting, I think you are clearly fortunate to have the secure employment you seem to have.

WTF???? I can buy vodka locally???????? :bolt:

Yes, TAG Vodka from Oakville.

http://oakvillenews.org/tag-vodka/

Whether you buy it from the distillery or the LCBO, it's the same price. And rest assured, the LCBO gets their cut either way.

What I really don't understand how part time employees at the LCBO complain,..."I only have a part time job,...and I don't get benefits, can't support my family on that",...

So now the part time job is supposed to magically turn into a full time with benefits job just because,...and the funds come from were,...???

What these people fail to understand is,... that the very unions that are supposedly there for their benefit,...are actually responsible for the huge increase in part time jobs.

Standing around at a cash register for 7 hours/day is not worth 57K, plus benefits.

I agree they (we the tax payer) shouldn't be paying 57K for working the cash or stocking shelves. But I also know an LCBO worker who's part time. He's been there for 10 years. They max out his weekly hours at 39 and to do that, he has to work 7 days a week. He's still 5 years away from being full time. That's kinda shitty.

So I think in some cases they have a legitimate beef. What is it, 85% part time employees?

 

[lomotil]

Let me preface this with I have a love/hate relationship with the LCBO. My top complaint is prices are too high, especially compared to the US.

But there's some aspects I do like. As a fan of red wine, I like how they have a new vintages release with wines from around the work every two weeks. They also have a tasting counter at many locations where you can sample some of the new wines, sparkling and spirits for a small fee. The vintages guys at my local LCBO don't even charge me anymore because they know I always purchase something.

Then there's the fact you can return any bottle if it's corked, off taste or if I simply didn't like it for a full refund. I've even broken a bottle (more than once) and simply returned the sealed to with the receipt and they replaced it N/C.

If the LCBO were to privatize, selection would drop and I highly doubt you could return a bottle because you didn't like it.



And a great reply from a current employee.







Yes, TAG Vodka from Oakville.

http://oakvillenews.org/tag-vodka/

Whether you buy it from the distillery or the LCBO, it's the same price. And rest assured, the LCBO gets their cut either way.



I agree they (we the tax payer) shouldn't be paying 57K for working the cash or stocking shelves. But I also know an LCBO worker who's part time. He's been there for 10 years. They max out his weekly hours at 39 and to do that, he has to work 7 days a week. He's still 5 years away from being full time. That's kinda shitty.

So I think in some cases they have a legitimate beef. What is it, 85% part time employees?

If the LCBO were to privatize, selection would drop and I highly doubt you could return a bottle because you didn't like it

General selection would drop, but specialties would go up. You as a red wine drinker would get much greater selection and better pricing. The LCBO does a good job for general selection, a bit of everything but not really great at any one thing whether it is scotch or wine.

 

[GameBoy27]

If the LCBO were to privatize, selection would drop and I highly doubt you could return a bottle because you didn't like it

General selection would drop, but specialties would go up. You as a red wine drinker would get much greater selection and better pricing. The LCBO does a good job for general selection, a bit of everything but not really great at any one thing whether it is scotch or wine.

I disagree on the red wine selection. LCBO does a great job with a new vintages release every two weeks. Wines from from all over the world. In addition, there's already many private wine importers in the city who sell selections not available at the LCBO.

 

[great bear]

I was going to make a rye comment but thought better of it.

 

[rhuarc29]

If the LCBO were to privatize, selection would drop and I highly doubt you could return a bottle because you didn't like it

WTF? The LCBO let's you return an opened bottle when you don't like it? How much does that ridiculous policy cost taxpayers?

 

[Insidious Von]

WTF? The LCBO let's you return an opened bottle when you don't like it? How much does that ridiculous policy cost taxpayers?

Even when you get a good deal you whine. You're a growler without a cause.

 

[GameBoy27]

WTF? The LCBO let's you return an opened bottle when you don't like it? How much does that ridiculous policy cost taxpayers?

Yeah, I'm sure it severely cuts into the more than $5.0 billion they generate in sales every year. lol

 

[gmanburl]

Store employees actually work. Store management actually works. Compare their salaries to other retailers & you will see that they are better compensated. They only get what OPSEU bargains for. The big wigs in HO may seem to be over paid, but this is typical of government agencies. If they are "not well paid", they will move on to other private retailers where they will be paid much more. I was employed at the LCBO for 35 years until pensioned. I met many HO employees who worked with the company only to be able to put their employment on their resume. They went on to bigger & better futures.

People think that the cost of a "bottle" is only because of what the employees earn. That if the LCBO was privatised, prices would be reduced. Not going to happen. The government budgets based on revenues (from the LCBO). Prices will never decrease due to privatisation.

 

[GameBoy27]

People think that the cost of a "bottle" is only because of what the employees earn. That if the LCBO was privatised, prices would be reduced. Not going to happen. The government budgets based on revenues (from the LCBO). Prices will never decrease due to privatisation.

From Wiki:

While it is impossible to generalize comparative pricing for the thousands of different alcoholic beverages available through LCBO, the stores have acquired a reputation for high prices. Online price comparisons with independent wine retailers such as Sherry-Lehman in neighbouring New York can indicate price differences ranging from 10% (in LCBO's favour) to 30% (in the independent retailers' favour). However, wines and spirits sold in Canada is subject to the Excise Act, 2001, which contributes greatly to the cost of beverage alcohol, although most liquor tax is provincial. Wine Access, a Canadian food and wine magazine, has claimed that high-end luxury brands sell in Ontario for up to 60% more than in New York. Excise duties on beer and malt liquor are taxed under the Excise Act.

 

[OnTheWayOut]

Strike averted

http://www.cp24.com/mobile/news/strike-averted-after-lcbo-workers-management-reach-deal-1.3475959

Great, we can be assured of more drunks on the roads and being assholes everywhere.

 

[GameBoy27]

Great, we can be assured of more drunks on the roads and being assholes everywhere.

Huh?

 

[dirkd101]

While I have little pity for the LCBO workers, as I believe they are overpaid for the work they do, I find that they do have a basis for some legitimate complaints. The problem lays with management, in that one complaint is about scheduling and 7 x 4hr shifts falls into that part-time category, which seems idiotic in nature. Why not schedule some full 8 hour days (3) and 1- 4 hour shift for those same 28 hours. Another issue which I can see their point goes along with this and that is scheduling that is more predictable, so that they can actually get another part-time job. If they get hours all over the place, it is impossible to work around. I'm not saying that this should be standard for all PT employees, but ffs, if you've been there 10 years, you should fall into the category of being a full-PT employee, not a casual PTer.

Surely to God a provincial crown corporation could get this right.

On a side note about the LCBO, I have friends who deal with them on the supply side and the graft that is needed to acquire prime shelf space is horrendous. There should be heads rolling over this sort of thing. So the ails of LCBO workers don't surprise me with the types of people they have managing this monopoly.

 

[lomotil]

I disagree on the red wine selection. LCBO does a great job with a new vintages release every two weeks. Wines from from all over the world. In addition, there's already many private wine importers in the city who sell selections not available at the LCBO.

Really, where are these private importers who sell selections not available at the LCBO? I thought that all liquor sales in Ontario were controlled by the LCBO? Vintages does an okay job, but touches only a fraction of what is available in say New York State or even imported red wines that I observed in Quebec City in the SAQ. I hope that you are not talking about private importers who supply restaurants ?

 

[lomotil]

WTF? The LCBO let's you return an opened bottle when you don't like it? How much does that ridiculous policy cost taxpayers?

People put water or even piss in empties and the LCBO takes them back.

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

People put water or even piss in empties and the LCBO takes them back

A teller also told me if you drop a bottle and it breaks, you can return the shards for a new bottle

 

[GameBoy27]

While I have little pity for the LCBO workers, as I believe they are overpaid for the work they do, I find that they do have a basis for some legitimate complaints. The problem lays with management, in that one complaint is about scheduling and 7 x 4hr shifts falls into that part-time category, which seems idiotic in nature. Why not schedule some full 8 hour days (3) and 1- 4 hour shift for those same 28 hours. Another issue which I can see their point goes along with this and that is scheduling that is more predictable, so that they can actually get another part-time job. If they get hours all over the place, it is impossible to work around. I'm not saying that this should be standard for all PT employees, but ffs, if you've been there 10 years, you should fall into the category of being a full-PT employee, not a casual PTer.

Surely to God a provincial crown corporation could get this right.

On a side note about the LCBO, I have friends who deal with them on the supply side and the graft that is needed to acquire prime shelf space is horrendous. There should be heads rolling over this sort of thing. So the ails of LCBO workers don't surprise me with the types of people they have managing this monopoly.

I agree. You shouldn't have to work 7 days a week for 15 years just to make 39 hours. Yes, you're always welcome to seek employment elsewhere but...

Really, where are these private importers who sell selections not available at the LCBO? I thought that all liquor sales in Ontario were controlled by the LCBO? Vintages does an okay job, but touches only a fraction of what is available in say New York State or even imported red wines that I observed in Quebec City in the SAQ. I hope that you are not talking about private importers who supply restaurants ?

I deal with several private importers who sell wine not available at the LCBO. It is still "controlled" by the LCBO, in that they have to pay taxes on it and submit samples to their lab for testing, but it's available to the general public. Catch is, you usually have to buy a case at a time. One importer I deal with will sell me a case, but he'll fill it with a selection 6 different kinds. I usually leave the selection up to him. If I don't like one of them, he'll take the rest back.

 

[explorerzip]

If we were LCBO workers, we'd probably strike too. First of all, you're forced to join the union with no way to opt out and you must pay dues. IMO, the union bosses work for me and will do my bidding if they automatically get a chunk of my paycheck.

 

[GPIDEAL]

I agree. You shouldn't have to work 7 days a week for 15 years just to make 39 hours. Yes, you're always welcome to seek employment elsewhere but...



I deal with several private importers who sell wine not available at the LCBO. It is still "controlled" by the LCBO, in that they have to pay taxes on it and submit samples to their lab for testing, but it's available to the general public. Catch is, you usually have to buy a case at a time. One importer I deal with will sell me a case, but he'll fill it with a selection 6 different kinds. I usually leave the selection up to him. If I don't like one of them, he'll take the rest back.

All true. Halpern & other private dealers charge a LCBO tax.

 

[Occasionally]

If we were LCBO workers, we'd probably strike too. First of all, you're forced to join the union with no way to opt out and you must pay dues. IMO, the union bosses work for me and will do my bidding if they automatically get a chunk of my paycheck.

If I was a union worker forced to pay dues, I'd strike too.

Might as well just join in on the herd mentality knowing a union leader will do the negotiations for me while I sit back and wait. Whereas a non-union worker has to man up and do their own chats with HR and their boss for promotions and pay increases outside of the standard 2% increase most people probably get assuming the company they work for is dong fine.

It's a fail safe tactic to strike because either you get a normal wage hike like everyone else gets, or you hit the jackpot and get a deal better than what the rest of the workforce gets. And some deals (like auto workers) would get signing bonuses. Ridiculous. You go back to work and you get a bonus for showing up.

Well, I hope union guys are getting their money's worth. If a union due is equal to let's say 1 or 2 % of their annual wages, you better be getting something beyond that.

Most companies doing well will give everyone about 2% standard. More if you are a good performer. So a union guy has to get a pay bump of let's say 3-4% at minimum to cover the fee to start with and be a wash with a typical office worker who doesn't pay dues. Then anything above that is where the real gains are.

 

[explorerzip]

If I was a union worker forced to pay dues, I'd strike too.

Might as well just join in on the herd mentality knowing a union leader will do the negotiations for me while I sit back and wait. Whereas a non-union worker has to man up and do their own chats with HR and their boss for promotions and pay increases outside of the standard 2% increase most people probably get assuming the company they work for is dong fine.

It's a fail safe tactic to strike because either you get a normal wage hike like everyone else gets, or you hit the jackpot and get a deal better than what the rest of the workforce gets. And some deals (like auto workers) would get signing bonuses. Ridiculous. You go back to work and you get a bonus for showing up.

Well, I hope union guys are getting their money's worth. If a union due is equal to let's say 1 or 2 % of their annual wages, you better be getting something beyond that.

Most companies doing well will give everyone about 2% standard. More if you are a good performer. So a union guy has to get a pay bump of let's say 3-4% at minimum to cover the fee to start with and be a wash with a typical office worker who doesn't pay dues. Then anything above that is where the real gains are.

I think that getting a 2% increase is very generous at most non-unionized companies these days. It's probably more like 1% if that.