You can expect to see the LCBO stay open longer at 360 of its stores across the province just in time for the Victoria Day long weekend.
The LCBO said starting Thursday, May 14, select locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Most stores will also be open from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sundays
The expansion of store hours will continue to roll out in stages across the province through to the first week of June, but all LCBO stores will still remain closed on Mondays until further notice.
The union that represents LCBO workers isn't too happy about the move, though. OPSEU President Warren Smokey Thomas said executives at the Crown corporation are putting front-line workers at greater risk for their own personal gain.
"It's absolutely appalling that [LCBO CEO George Soleas] and his cronies refuse to give hazard pay to their front-line workers but have no qualms about expanding the number of hours they're potentially exposed to COVID-19," said Thomas. "This is corrupt leadership at its finest – prioritizing your own bottom line above all else."
The LCBO said the expanded store hours follow previous actions that were taken to protect employees and the public including elevated store cleaning and sanitization protocols along with introducing "numerous physical distancing supports" and increasing prevention awareness amongst its workers.
In order to further protect its employees, the LCBO is encouraging customers to wear non-medical masks or face coverings and to stay away if they are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
Customers are also being reminded to follow all of the proper physical distancing guidelines and to shop alone, plan ahead, and limit interactions by paying with debit or credit and packing their own reusable bags. Returns are currently on hold as well, but customers can expect them to be honoured at a future date as long as they hold on to their products and receipts.
Those increased safety measures don't appear to go far enough for OPSEU officials.
In addition to calling out the LCBO for not offering hazard pay to its employees, Thomas claimed that the corporation has not been communicating quickly enough with the union when it comes to health and safety concerns.
"Ignoring expert medical advice by expanding hours ahead of the long weekend increases the risk of community spread, for what reason? So that the power-drunk, profit-hungry LCBO bosses can get even larger bonuses from long-weekend sales?" said Thomas in a release. "I think last week the premier referred to such wanton disregard for each other's safety as the action of yahoos. I highly recommend the premier tell these guys to pack their bags, too."
