Manitoba liquor strike ends after union accepts new contract

The nearly six-week-long strike of liquor workers in Manitoba has ended after unionized workers voted to accept a new four-year contract.

The unionized workers voted to accept the latest offer by Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MBLL) – a total general wage increase of 12 per cent for most of the workers. Some are expected to receive more than that.

Exact results of the vote weren’t released.

“We are pleased that our striking MGEU employees have voted to ratify the tentative agreement reached this past Wednesday, and we look forward to welcoming all of them back to work as we resume the full services Manitobans count on as quickly as possible,” MBLL said in a news release.

MBLL characterizes the increases as just two per cent per year, which it says were what was on the table throughout the dispute and are consistent with other public sector settings, including many MGEU workplaces.

The employer’s statement says the difference with the agreement that’s been ratified is that special pay-scale adjustments driven by an upcoming Oct. 1 provincial minimum wage increase will be reallocated, to ensure the lowest paid workers get more.

All Liquor Marts will be open Monday. One store in Winnipeg and another in Brandon will be exclusive to commercial customers until later this week.

Strike action at Liquor Marts across the province began July 19. A full provincewide walkout began Aug. 8.

The union representing the 1,400 workers in Manitoba reached a tentative agreement with MBLL Wednesday. Workers began voting Thursday, and polls closed Sunday at noon.

The bargaining committee recommended members accept the agreement.

“We knew a deal was to be had at the bargaining table, and our members proved just that,” said MGEU president Kyle Ross. “We’d like to thank everyone for their patience, support, and solidarity during this extremely difficult round of bargaining. It is unfortunate that we were forced to take strike action to get the government to listen to us, but our collective efforts have resulted in an agreement that will help us catch up and keep up.”

—With files from The Canadian Press