Ontario liquor store workers get deal

TORONTO, June 24 (UPI) -- The union representing Ontario's public liquor store workers said it reached a tentative contract with provincial officials Wednesday, averting a strike.

Vanda Klumper of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union said the four-year deal with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario achieves the union's primary goal of protecting hours and rights for its members, particularly part-time workers, Canwest News Service reported. The contract covers approximately 7,000 workers, of which about 60 percent are part-time, with no vacation, sick time or benefits.

"We set a goal in this round of bargaining that we would not settle for any deal unless it protected the livelihoods of our permanent staff and made measurable gains for the majority of our members who are struggling to make ends meet as casuals," said Klumper, chairwoman of the union bargaining team. "We achieved that goal."

Terms of the tentative contract were not divulged. The union was working on setting up a ratification vote.

"The bargaining team is unanimous in recommending acceptance of this historic contract," Klumper said. "This contract is a victory, not only for OPSEU members, but for working people across Ontario."

A strike scheduled for midnight Tuesday had been put off when it became apparent progress was being made in negotiations, the Toronto Star reported.

The threat of about 608 stores across the Canadian province being staffed by just 800 managers during a strike created a mad scramble at many Toronto liquor outlets and left shelves bare Tuesday, the newspaper said.

The union workers' contract expired March 31, and last month members voted 93 percent in favor of a strike, which would have been the first in the liquor board's history, the Star said.

Kerim Sursal said he bought 50 bottles of wine for his Aug. 1 wedding as a precaution despite long lines and jammed parking lots.

"Nothing brings Canadians together like shopping for booze," he said.