The LCBO, Ontario’s chain of state-owned liquor stores that monopolize alcohol sales in the province, is running TV adverts at the moment protesting proposed government privatization of liquor retail. At least, the employees of LCBO are: the small print at the end of the advert tells us that it “was brought to us by the employees of LCBO.”
It comes as no surprise that it would. It would be tragic for LCBO employees to lose their cushy, government-protected jobs with their overblown salaries and full benefits and to be thrust into the hurly-burly of the labour market, where the vast majority of Canadians have to compete, and the ‘evil’ principles of advancement according to merit, expectation of tangible results and punishment of poor performance.
The advert informs us that privatization “doesn’t make financial sense, it doesn’t even make common sense” without one word as to why that might be, as though it was as self-evident as night following day. Of course, privatization doesn’t make sense if one wishes to perpetuate a monopoly, strangle economic freedom and continue to fleece the consumer.
Canadian alcohol costs more and is less available than in countries where the alcohol trade is privatized. Canadians heading south of the border frequently express amazement at finding beer in grocery stores for what looks to them like a fire-sale price. The basic tenet of public-sector business in Canada is to force the consumer to finance higher wages and benefits for those who have done nothing to merit them.
Prosperity and alleviation of poverty follow economic freedom. It’s interesting to note that while the USA has about 11% of it’s population below the poverty line and falling, Canada has about 16% below the poverty line, and rising. Privatizing state-run industry will be better for everybody in the long run, even LCBO employees. Unfortunately, it seems that working for government turns one completely selfish and myopic, so don’t expect them to admit it anytime soon.
LCBO STAFF wrote:
Dear Ontarians, Politicians and Media
We are writing to complain about favoritism at the L.C.B.O. and its cost
to taxpayers. We would like to share the example below.
During the nineties an L.C.B.O. employee was applying for openings on the
point of sale help desk at the L.C.B.O. He applied many times over a number of years for
the position of help desk Analyst. He was academically qualified and worked hard and
was a good L.C.B.O. employee. He was always turned down, and never given any reason
why he was not selected for the positions he applied. This former employee was
Richard Saliwonczyk.
What happened? An L.C.B.O. employee Mr. David Moody who got a position in
the information technology department through his friend Mr. Mark D
Lamantia who was a manager. Mr. David Moody was not qualified for his
position, he was a high school graduate with no information technology work experience as is his friend Mr. Mark D Lamantia. These two individuals each get paid close to a six digit yearly salary. Mr. David moody hated Mr. Richard Saliwonczyk for some unknown
reason. He told his friend Mr. Mark D Lamantia, not to hire Mr. Richard
Saliwonczyk on the help desk.
Mr. David Moody and Mr. Mark D Lamantia have treated other L.C.B.O.
employees in the same manner, while their friends receive preferential
treatment. Mr. Mark D Lamantia got his job at head office with help from his uncle who worked at the Lcbo.
Mr. Richard Saliwonczyk never became a help desk analyst even though he
was qualified. He filed some complaints about these issues, nothing was
ever corrected.
Due to these circumstances Mr. Richard Saliwonczyk was forced to leave the
L.C.B.O. During his tenure at the L.C.B.O. Mr. Richard Saliwonczyk legitimately
injured his knee and back. This injury resulted in over a quarter of a million dollar award
that is paid by W.S.I.B. to Mr. Richard Saliwonczyk during his life time. If Mr. Richard Saliwonczyk had not been forced to leave the L.C.B.O. due to the above circumstances, then there would not be any W.S.I.B. payments totaling over $400,000 dollars being paid to him. He would still be working at the L.C.B.O. as a help desk analyst.
This burden to taxpayers can be eliminated by the L.C.B.O. The L.C.B.O. is
a schedule two employer which means that they make W.S.I.B. payments as
required instead of paying a specified monthly W.S.I.B. premium. The
L.C.B.O. can negotiate with Mr. Richard Saliwonczyk to stop making these
payments which total over a quarter of a million dollars, and in return
the L.C.B.O. can offer him a position as a help desk analyst.
This is being submitted by a group of L.C.B.O. employees who is concerned
about the cost of favoritism and nepotism to taxpayers. We wish to remain nameless
due to the internal politics at the L.C.B.O.
Please contact your MPP!
Posted on 21-May-04 at 8:57 am | Permalink
Privatize LCBO wrote:
Customer service at the LCBO In London Ontario Cherryhill mall is horrid, actually no it’s more mind blowing how customer service can be so brash!!
I have made many a purchase from there and after my last encounter with the cashier ( HELEN ) I will most certainly be voting to privatize the LCBO, maybe then it will be gratifying experience.
My Drivers license was expired, so she declined me after she SCRATCHED, PICKED, FOULED UP and then TOSSED the card on the counter, even though I had my Picture Health Card and About Six other form of ID, after that she proceeded to decline my girl friend ( who had proper Identification with pictures and government issued cards, because she knew she was buying it for me, that’s all beside the fact, after entering the store for the second time (with my girl friend) she made us remain in of the counter while she ripped up paper, kicked dirt around on the floor and ever so slowly picked out pennies, nickels, and dimes from her hand, while periodically staring up at us, this whole spectacle lasted about five minutes, that’s a long time to stand in line with no service and know acknowledgement, while other customers look around with self-consciousness or some sort of embarrassment. This is very irresponsible, immature, immoral, unanswerable, and just plane . At one point I had asked that she “Lose the attitude” well this offended her!! and she became irrate and peevish. I don’t understand why? I was the one being jilted by your employee.
The Acting Manager ( Holly ) proved to be an ill-favored choice, she was mostly ignorant to the situation at hand, and jumped to defend the cashier without even asking what the problem was!
I am very intelligent, knowledgeable, and perceptive and I know when I am being insulted and treated as an adolescent. The repercussions of this will be atrocious, I personally will tell every individual that I know about the harsh treatment and embarrassment we endured at the L.C.B.O.
I understand that every LCBO employee serving the public takes part in the organization’s SMAART (Strategies for Managing Age- and Alcohol-Related Troubles) program. It teaches staff about responsible service and related judgment calls, alcohol issues and how to identify potential problems and handle them tactfully. I would like to know if these employees completed there training or were at least awake for it!
Through these so called seminars, instructional workbooks and videos, the staff should know how to deal with customers who appear intoxicated or underage, second-party purchasers (those buying alcohol for someone who’s not legally entitled to purchase it)
I understand how the LCBO is supposed to operate or function, I suggest you re-train or at least discuss the issue at hand with these employees and the appropriate way for an employee to act. I am long past the minimum age, I don’t understand why I was even ID, maybe it was the colour of my skin, the way I spoke or walked or even my race, that’s for the appropriate person(s) to investigate and inquire about.
I will be expecting a follow up on this issue.
Govern yourself Accordingly:
Posted on 08-Jun-04 at 8:32 am | Permalink
Tanya Cyr wrote:
Hello i have a question to ask you… I’m going to Calgary for the summer and i was wondering if the LCBO ID would work to show a piece of identification to get on the plane.
Please reply to me A.S.A.P (as soon as possible)
Thank you
my e-mail address is canadian_girl1109@hotmail.com
Posted on 27-Feb-06 at 1:32 pm | Permalink
James wrote:
yesterday (tuesday sept 4) at 2 pm i went to an lcbo in london to buy a botle of wine. this outlet was closed, presumably to give these union twits more stat holiday time. this was a full business day for everyone else and was in fact nationwide back to school day. i had to drive an extra 15 minutes, in heavy traffic, burning more gas, to cherryhill mall.
i could rant here for days, but suffice it to say i would vote for any candidate i thought was serious about blowing up this ridiculous, outdated, costly monopoly which employs and shelters losers who couldnt make it in the real world.
Posted on 05-Sep-07 at 8:12 am | Permalink