A tentative deal between the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) and the union representing 10,000 striking workers may have hit a snag.
A tentative agreement was initially announced Friday afternoon to potentially end a two-week strike.
However, Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) spokesperson Katie Arnup later said there's still work to do before a deal is reached.
"We were prepared to come here this afternoon and discuss a tentative agreement reached with the LCBO, that was good for Ontario," said Arnup. "As part of that agreement we put forward a return-to-work protocol that would put workers back to work on Monday, which the employer said they wanted late last night. We were prepared to announce this deal, the premier said there was a deal but the employer is now refusing to sign that protocol. A return-to-work protocol is necessary for workers to go back to work in the event of a strike. Without that document signed, we do not have a deal and the strike continues."
The LCBO also released an updated statement accusing OPSEU of introducing new demands.
"They have since introduced significant new monetary demands that should have been dealt with at the bargaining table. To introduce a new set of demands after reaching a tentative agreement amounts to bad faith bargaining," read an LCBO statement.
The LCBO said it expects to file an unfair labour practice in short order.
Prior to the late afternoon update, the LCBO said it planned to reopen retail locations on Tuesday, July 23, pending ratification of the tentative deal.
Unionized LCBO workers walked off the job on July 5.
While wages and benefits were sticking points during negotiations, OPSEU representatives said job security was its main concern in light of the Ford government's plan to expand alcohol sales to more stores across the province.
During a media conference on July 10, Ontario Premier Doug Ford made it clear the province will not back down from its plans.
Days later, the government announced that 450 licensed grocery stores would be allowed to sell ready-to-drink cocktails as of July 18, instead of August 1, in light of the strike.
- With files from Josh Boyce