LCBO strike deadline extended

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES UNION

************************** OPSEU: Strike deadline extended in LCBO contract talks

TORONTO, ONTARIO - (June 23, 2009) - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union and the LCBO have agreed to an extension on the strike deadline that had been set for 12:01 a.m. June 24.

"We would not be extending the strike deadline if we did not feel that we can reach a collective agreement through negotiation," said Vanda Klumper, chair of the union bargaining team. "There remain problems to be ironed out, but if the LCBO is committed to reaching a settlement it can be done.

"Obviously we are not going to subject our customers to the inconvenience of a work stoppage just because the negotiations ran out of time," she said. "Both teams are working diligently and we hope that our work will pay off before long."

The extension means the OPSEU collective agreement remains in force until further notice.

"In this round of bargaining we have said all along that we will not settle for any deal unless it protected the livelihoods of our permanent staff and makes measurable gains for the majority of our members who are struggling to make ends meet as casual employees," said Klumper.

"We intend to achieve that goal, and with the ongoing strong support of our members, we will."

No time limit has been set for the extension.

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