Few Ontarians affected by job action, poll finds

Nearly half of respondents support union's demands

- ANJA KARADEGLIJA, ROSA SABA

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says the province's alcohol expansion plan poses an existential threat to the LCBO and could lead to major job losses.

A new poll suggests just 15 per cent of Ontarians are personally affected by the LCBO's ongoing strike, as the provincial government expands access to alcohol at other retailers.

That's despite nearly 90 per cent of respondents in a new Leger poll saying they are aware the job action is happening.

Fewer than one-third of Ontarians say they want the provincial government to intervene to end the nearly two-week strike at Ontario's main liquor retailer, while about half are supportive of the striking union's demands.

The Leger poll of 601 residents can't be assigned a margin of error because online surveys are not considered truly random samples.

Approximately 10,000 workers at the LCBO walked off the job July 5 after negotiations broke down.

The union representing the workers said the sides were headed back to the bargaining table Wednesday.