Liquor Control Board of Ontario employees and the company have agreed to continue talks, extending the strike deadline until a deal is made -- or one side walks from the table.
"The parties have agreed that the collective agreement will remain in place as long as the deadline is extended," said a statement on the Ontario Public Service Employees Union website, 40 minutes before midnight. "Members should report to work until notified otherwise."
Earlier in the day, LCBO stores were crammed with customers stocking up on beverages. One Toronto bar opener was not taking any chances.
"We just went down to the liquor store and spent $8,000 just to stock up, and we're going out again today to pick up more," said Michael Sweenie, owner of Andy Poolhall, a bar in Toronto's Little Italy neighbourhood.
Workers are fighting for improved benefits for casual employees who currently receive no vacation pay, sick time or benefits. They can also be called in to work a shift that is as short as two hours.
Before the strike deadline was extended, LCBO spokesperson Chris Layton said the board has a history of averting strikes. He also said casual employees are compensated fairly and make up to $18 an hour.
"We are bargaining very seriously," he told CTV Toronto. "We have tried to meet the union's demands and their concerns. We owe it to the public to come up with an agreement to negotiate a settlement."
If LCBO employees do eventually strike, Beer Store locations and Ontario-only wine shops will not be affected by the job action.
Layton said the LCBO has changed in the last 20 years, operating more like a retail outlet than a government office. That has caused the Liquor Board to reduce the number of full-time workers it employs.
"If you just have full-time employees, we would have a lot of staff at the store and not the business to warrant that staff so it helps us operate efficiently," he said.
But union officials say workers need to drive from store to store in one day in order to make enough money to support themselves.
"We're talking about people who have been working for this company for 10 or 15 years and they still haven't seen a vacation day or benefit or anything," said Craig Hadley with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. "The LCBO can afford to do better. We're not asking for crazy things. This is just fairness.
Layton said he's positive the two sides can come to a resolution before workers take job action.
"We don't think talking strike action does anybody any good but let's work out a deal at the bargaining table," he said. "That's where we are focusing our energy right now."
With files from The Canadian Press
