Ontario tipplers are in a nasty mood after an apparent deal to end the province’s first Liquor Control Board (LCBO) strike in its history fell through at the last minute.Hours after reaching a tentative agreement with the Ontario Public Services Employees union, sources reported the walk out was back on after two days of round-the-clock bargaining.Meanwhile, the LCBO on Friday said it plans to file an unfair labour practice complaint against the union, accusing it of introducing new demands after the deal had been signed."To introduce a new set of demands after reaching a tentative agreement amounts to bad faith bargaining," the statement said.In exchange for guarantees that 600 part time and casual workers will be brought on full time, the union initially capitulated on the issue of allowing ready to drink cocktails in grocery stores.If implemented, liquor stores would have reopened as of Tuesday, July 23..Workers were to receive 8% pay increases over three years and the LCBO agreed to limit the number of agency stores to 400 outlets over the three year contract. It also guarantees no layoffs for the term of the contract due to “market changes.”“The workers have made it clear all along — Premier Ford’s alcohol everywhere plan directly threatened jobs and public revenues. And he forced this strike by fast-tracking it right in the middle of bargaining.”The union and the government reportedly hadn’t spoken since the strike began and negotiators only began talking as of Wednesday..Ford gained notoriety for publishing an online map of where Ontario’s could continue to buy booze through the strike.“We recognize the disruption the strike caused for our employees, partners, and customers who rely on our services, and we thank everyone for their continued patience and understanding as we begin resuming regular operations,” the LCBO said Friday.More than 9,000 workers walked off the job on July 5, the first strike in the LCBO's history, shuttering 680 retail outlets across the province.
