Striking LCBO workers have reached a tentative deal with their employer, the two sides announced on Friday.
If the agreement is ratified, the strike will end at 12:01 a.m. on July 22, the LCBO said in a statement.
Retail stores will open for in-store shopping on July 23, the statement said.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) said the tentative agreement will protect jobs and public revenue generated by LCBO sales.
“The union is confident this agreement addresses the needs of workers and is a win for all Ontarians,” the union said in a statement Friday.
Details on the deal won’t be made public until they are communicated to all union members, OPSEU said. Union officials are expected to speak to media at 3:00 p.m. ET.
About 9,000 workers walked off the job on July 5, shuttering retail outlets across the province.
On Monday, the province announced it was fast-tracking plans to bring ready-to-drink cocktails and larger packs of beer into some supermarkets.
The following day, OPSEU said in a statement it was returning to the bargaining table.
Its team was “ready with a plan to present to the LCBO tomorrow,” the statement said. “To get a deal and end this strike, LCBO management need to do their jobs and bargain in good faith.”
Province’s plan to expand alcohol sales at issue
Workers had said that Premier Doug Ford’s plans to make pre-mixed cocktails readily available across other stores were at the heart of the negotiations.
The union says the expansion could lead to thousands of job losses for LCBO workers within a few years.
It’s also looking for the province to guarantee wage increases, and is seeking “more stable and permanent jobs.”