Liquor workers agree to compliance in contract dispute

The Union for Manitoba’s 1,400 alcoholic beverage employees has agreed to bring the contract dispute into compliance, after staging recent protests at Select Liquor Marts and the massive distribution centre in Ambriinnipeg.

The Government of Manitoba and the General Employees Union agreed Tuesday to the request of Manitoba Liquor &Amp; Lotteries Corp. to bring in a conciliator to lead contract negotiations. It had initially rejected the idea, MGEU president Kyle Ross said.

“We wanted to dig it out, because we still don’t believe that (MLL) has made deals with us. They have said a lot about where they are, and that’s it. Our negotiation committee (is) frustrated,” he said.

On Tuesday, 150 workers at the Liquor Distribution Centre on King Edanair Street were back on the milestone line in a bid to increase pressure on The Crown corporation.

Liquor workers across the province will walk the milestone lines on Wednesday and Thursday.

The ability to wipe out the workings of the distribution of alcoholic beverages throughout the province is one of the weapons of the Union, especially during the busy summer season. The latest labour action has worried operators of summer festivals which depend on the sale of alcohol to make or break their event.

With the Icelandic Manitoba Festival less than two weeks away, President Marilyn Valgardson is closely watching the work action. The volunteer-run organization will organize a variety of activities in August. 4-7, but his four-day beer garden is one of the few chances he gets to generate income at the Gimli-based festival, which has no attendance fee.

“We can see how the work action is being prepared instead of down, we are only a few weeks out of our festival … it’s certainly an increased level of stress,” Valgardson said on Tuesday.

“Because we have already committed to specific expenses around what is usually a revenue generating event, such as the beer garden, we have already committed to a number of expenses that we will not get out of at this point, whether we have booze or not. If we are unable to buy any alcoholic beverages, it will be a significant loss of income for a non-profit organization.”

The Icelandic Festival has put a “significant” order for alcoholic drinks in the MLL.

“At this point, we are optimistic that there will be no (lost revenue), that we will be able to put some things in place.”– Icelandic Festival of Manitoba president Marilyn Valgardson

Valgardson is concerned that the large order will not reach an hour north in gimli from Amberinnipeg. There are few local private options for large-scale purchases.

Organizers have unexpected plans if the strike escalates to the point that her order is affected, but Valgardson did not want to elaborate.

“At this point, we are optimistic that there will be no (lost revenue), that we will be able to put some things in place,” she said. “It can just mean a lot of manpower and a lot of time spent.”

MGEU’S liquor workers have been out of contract since March 2022.

The union is demanding raises in line with those given to Manitoba MPs and Prime Minister Heather Stefanson, starting at 3.3 per cent this year, and another 3.6 per cent in 2024 and 2025.

It is offered two per cent per annum over four years, with revenue increases for some staff to ensure that they are in line with the increase in the provincial minimum wage.

The MGEU has accused the Tory Government of tying MLL’s negotiating hands through what it calls a “restrictive” wage mandate system.

Liquor Mart workers held a one-day strike on July 19 and will return to the milestone line on Wednesday and Thursday; staff at the distribution center left from July 19-21 and will remain on strike on July 25-27.

Ross said the longest protests by workers at the distribution center, which he called the “heart” of The Crown corporation, are by design.

“It’s the place where all the alcoholic drinks are delivered. It is the place where all souls are sent to the shops. We want (MLL) to be aware of what we can do. It’s not what we want to do. “I’ve said all along, a strike is a last resort,” he said.

“We just want to make sure we’re influential while not hurting Manitobans, and at some point, unfortunately, we’re going to upset Manitobans, and it’s not our choice.”

The union considered the impact of the strike on the Manitobans ‘ summer plans, Ross said.

“We are measuring our response because we understand it’s wine and we understand that Manitobans love to taste wine. We were left with no choice with these unfair offers.”

An MLL spokesperson said it is too early to determine the effect of the strike on buyers.

MLL has only begun to put in place its contingency plan to mitigate “significantly limited” delivery services, the spokesman said.

“But these daily strike actions are making it challenging for us to reduce the potential effects on our business partners,” they said in an email.

“Products that do not flow through our alcoholic beverage distribution center are not affected and continue to be distributed to licensees throughout the province — this includes many well-known brands of beer, coolers and some ready-to-drink products.”

A provincial government spokesman said he would not comment on the potential effect of the prolonged strike on Manitoba’s businesses and non-profit events.

“We hope that this process will minimize disruption for all Manitobans and minimize loss of income for workers.”– Spokesman

“We will not speculate on the potential impacts, especially now that we understand the union has agreed to reconciliation,” they said in an email. “We hope that this process will minimize disruption for all Manitobans and minimize loss of income for workers.”

NDP MP Lisa Naylor said the government must ensure fair negotiations.

“Like[former prime minister]Brian Pallister, Heather Stefanson has taken every opportunity to pick fights with workers. Now, its failure to comply is putting at risk the services that the Manitobans care for,” she said.

A representative of Folklorama said that there are no red flags about the distribution of alcoholic beverages at its events next month in Ambriinnipeg.

The Gimli Film Festival, which starts on Wednesday, is using a local beer to fill its orders.

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