Well, the LCBO is not quite yet on strike but when you are in a monopoly market these things can catch you unaware or, worse, unprepared. What's this all about you ask?
A trend toward part-time and casual jobs, and a management proposal to be able to issue 90-day layoff notices at any time - to any employee - remain the top two bones of contention, union leaders said. "This is about workers being poorly treated — part-time and casual workers," union vice-president and treasurer Patty Rout told reporters near a parked trailer ready to become a strike command centre. "Twenty years ago, all the jobs were full-time," she said. "Now, 60 per cent are part-time or casual, people making $10 to $17 an hour, making less than $20,000 a year.
See, as far as I know, the LCBO is the biggest buyer and seller of booze left in the world. Last year it made a profit of 1.35 billion dollars on sales of $4.13 billion which adds up to 33% annual profit. It also made $841 million in sales taxes in 2008 for a combined revenue flow to government of $2,191,000,000 or about 168 bucks for every Ontarian on purchases of $317.69 per Ontarian. Not bad.
So, OK, I panicked and did a semi-Yule-like spree on the first hot evening of the summer. But not for me. No. Not at all. For the wine drinkers in my life. Like I want them casting a thirsty eye upon the stash.
Comments
P of K - June 22, 2009 10:49 PM
Well I am not worried about the strike - I know where your stash is Al.
Alan - June 22, 2009 11:47 PM
Two words: attack cat.
And if there is a strike I brew 20 litres this weekend.
Chris - June 23, 2009 8:37 AM
I have on hand 4 kegs of IPA I brewed last month. I don't drink liquor, so I couldn't care less if they go on strike. I do however buy the odd six pack of Ontario Craft Beer now and then when the LCBO feels like stocking it. I went into a LCBO on the weekend and experienced price shock. Wow!!! I am glad I make my own beer and don't drink coolers and whisky.
JonasOfToronto - June 23, 2009 12:34 PM
Well we have to get out to the bars and celebrate... something or other. I've got it: the loss of public favor they (the Liquor Cash Barons) are going to suffer.
Plus many of us could wait out a nuclear winter in our cellar stashes & never need to go out for beer. And then who really needs food! LOL
towncouncil - June 23, 2009 3:18 PM
Why is it that some people feel that selling liquor or stocking shelves in a liquor store should be one of those professions that entitles one to a job for life, a pension, and so forth? It's a retail job. How many cashiers at Chapters do you know that get the same rights?
Here's a job for life for you: allow independent grocers and convenience stores to stock beer and wine. (This is Quebec's model.) Most of these people have a job for life already since they're owner-operators and sometimes even pass the business along to a relative. Most could do really well out of the added revenue. I think we have more of a social responsibility to enhance the lives of these (mainly immigrant, often without great English or other qualifications) shop owners than overpaid "pure Canadian" retail workers who could probably find other careers a lot more easily.
At the dépanneur I used to frequent in Montreal the owner's son often worked the cash. Unlike his father, who probably came over to give him a better life, he spoke perfect English AND French and you could see him studying his university textbooks when business was slow. Kid will probably grow up to be a doctor and his dad's business put beer in my stomach.
Quebec does have the SAQ—and some other problems with price regulation and selection of products even at dépanneurs—which is a bit dinosaur like the LCBO. Why do governments feel the need to distinguish between different types of alcohol?
In Alberta it's all treated the same. Just go to the liquor store and buy what you want. If you're hosting a party and want beer and vodka you don't have to make two trips.
I ultimately prefer the Quebec model, though, because the Alberta model does not permit alcohol to be sold at the same time as any grocery items, which is a foolish, foolish idea. In highly suburban Alberta, a liquor store is likely to be the only thing in walking distance to your house that is open past 10 or 11pm (and in this case some liquor stores are open till 2am). Imagine being able to buy a 26oz bottle of whiskey but have nothing to line your stomach with....
In Quebec you can get a nice frozen pizza or something. Have your drinks and not get too blasted on an empty stomach.
Alan - June 23, 2009 5:12 PM
That is all well and good for the future but today there is serious booze fright going on.
Knut Albert - June 25, 2009 10:46 AM
No strikes here in Norway for now, but the discussions are the same. If 80% of your sales are on Friday afternoon plus Saturday, it makes sense to employ part time staff.
We had strikes in the seventies. The Wine Monopoly stores cleared their shelves finally got rid of their stock of banana liqueur and similar stuff. But the taxi drivers of Oslo immediately set up a bootleg operation with smuggled whisky and vodka from their trunks. Booze was available around the clock...