Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries says it's willing to go to arbitration for labour dispute with union

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries says it has accepted a conciliator's proposal to end a nearly month-long labour dispute with the union representing Liquor Mart employees through binding arbitration centred on wage increases.

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries says it has accepted a conciliator's proposal to end a nearly month-long labour dispute with the union representing Liquor Mart employees through binding arbitration centred on wage increases.

An independent conciliator recommended Liquor & Lotteries move forward with binding arbitration focused on general wage increases to end an ongoing dispute with the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union, which represents about 1,400 Liquor Mart workers, according to a Monday news release issued by the Crown corporation.

The conciliator also suggested the rest of the corporation's offer to the union — including changes to pay grades, benefits and a one-time bonus — stay the same to maintain those gains for employees while arbitration takes place, according to Liquor & Lotteries.

Liquor & Lotteries says it has accepted the conciliator's recommendations and is awaiting the union's response. Both parties began meeting with the independent conciliator last week.