With only days to go before the long weekend, the message from the province’s liquor control body is simple: stock up.

The statement comes just hours ahead of a strike that could close LCBO locations across the province ahead of the Victoria Day long weekend.

On Monday, the union representing more than 7,000 Liquor Control Board of Ontario employees began opening strike offices across the province ahead of Thursday night’s deadline for a solution to avoid planned labour action.

In April, 95 per cent of unionized LCBO employees voted in favour of walking off the job at midnight on Thursday should a new collective agreement not be reached.

LCBO employees have been without a contract since a four-year deal expired on March 31.

The main issues of contention concern pay for part-time workers, hours and workplace safety.

Speaking with CP24 Wednesday afternoon, OPSEU spokesperson Craig Hadley said that the move is about job security for union members.

“Our members have spoken quite loudly that they need good hours,” he said.

With regards to a statement from the LCBO saying the organization was optimistic that a deal could be reached, Hadley said the union’s members want the same outcome.

“Our team is trying to get a deal,” Hadley said. “Our workers do not want to go on strike - they want to continue to serve the public. But again, it comes down to the fundamental issue of part-time, precarious work in Ontario, and we have an opportunity now to change that – to put Ontario in the right direction.”

LCBO employees also voted in favour of a work stoppage in 2005 and 2009, but both sides returned to the table and negotiated a new collective agreement before any action was taken.

Last week, the union filed a gender-discrimination complaint against the LCBO with the Human right Tribunal of Ontario.

The union contends that 70 per cent of “casual workers” at the LCBO are women. The union says because they are paid less and have fewer benefits than regular workers, the retailer is guilty of anti-female discrimination.

LCBO spokesperson Heather MacGregor said that the complaint was without merit, noting that the majority of full-time employees with the LCBO are women.

The Beer Store and Wine Rack locations would not be affected by a potential strike.

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