TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2012 /CNW/ - 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
SOURCE: Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)
Greg Hamara
OPSEU Communications
Tel: 647-238-9933
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