On the 64th anniversary of the United Nation’s Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, hundreds of LCBO employees will stage
information pickets outside retail outlets today calling on the Crown
corporation to provide equal pay for equal work. [See below for a complete
list of locations].
“Under Article 23.2 of the declaration it states ‘everyone,
without discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work,’” said
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees
Union, which represents about 7,000 LCBO workers at retail stores, head
office and distribution centres across the province.
“Regrettably, because of its multi-tiered wage structure,
the LCBO comes nowhere close to meeting the goal of the U.N declaration. In
fact, the LCBO exercises a very aggressive system of wage discrimination
where employees are paid different rates despite doing the exact same work
as colleagues who are classified differently,” said Thomas.
He noted that OPSEU’s collective agreement with the LCBO
expires on Mar. 31, 2013 and reducing wage discrimination will be a priority
for the union when it sits down at the bargaining table.
“Our members have told their bargaining team that wage
discrimination is at the top of their list of demands. We take this very
seriously and will bargain aggressively on this issue,” said Thomas.
Denise Davis, chair of the liquor board employees division
of OPSEU, said wage discrimination practiced by the LCBO hits women
employees the hardest.
“More than 60 per cent of the LCBO’s retail work force is
made up of women and most of them can only get part-time hours each week,
yet they’re paid considerably less than other employees doing the exact same
work but on a full-time, permanent basis,” said Davis.
“This is fundamentally wrong and we look forward to
addressing this during our upcoming contract negotiations.”
The liquor board employees have identified 17 LCBO retail
locations across Ontario at which information pickets will be set up. See
the complete list and contact information below.
Equal Pay for Equal Work information pickets will take place between
noon and 2 pm and between 4 pm and 6 pm at the following LCBO retail
locations:
TORONTO
2625D
Weston Rd.
Yonge
& Summerhill
1145
Danforth Road
2290
Dundas St. W.
Contact: Adriana Bertoni 416-618-4909
WATERLOO
115
King St. S
Contact: Shawn Swayze 905-973-3730
ST.
CATHARINES
343
Glendale Ave
311
Geneva St. Fairview Mall
Contact: Shawn Swayze 905-973-3730
STRATFORD
1067
Ontario St.
Contact: Dave Holmes 519-200-4829
BARRIE
534
Bayfield Rd.
Contact: Rick Woodall 705-687-0602
OSHAWA
400
Gibb St Oshawa Shopping Centre
Contact: Rick Woodall 705-687-0602
COBOURG
111
Elgin St. S.,
Contact: Rick Woodall 705-687-0602
KINGSTON
34
Barrack St.
Contact: Eric Davis 613-546-3824
OTTAWA
222
Richmond Rd.
Contact: Adam Ly 613-864-2134
NORTH BAY
1171
Algonquin Rd.
Contact: Kevin Herbert 416-995-3820
SUDBURY
190
Cedar St.
Contact: Kevin Herbert 416-995-3820
SAULT STE. MARIE
616
Great Northern Rd.
Contact: Kevin Herbert 416-995-3820
THUNDER BAY
Thunder Centre, 969 Fort William Rd.
Contact: Robert Lorkowski 807-767-4572
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