On July 19, Virden's Liquor Mart location was shuttered as local staff participated in a one-day, province-wide walkout to draw public attention to the impasse in their contract negotiations. All provincially-owned retail liquor stores were closed except for six outlets in Winnipeg and one in Brandon. According to the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union, more than 1,400 of its members who work for Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries have been offered a four-year contract by the province with a 2% annual wage increase, plus extra pay for those at the bottom of the wage scale to keep them in line with hikes in the minimum wage.
The workers have been without a collective agreement since March 2022.
Following the walkout, workers will resume their duties but refuse all overtime and may take further job action if a deal cannot be reached.
