The labour union representing some workers at the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) is warning cannabis retailers across the province of a potential labour disruption that the union says could affect services.
In a letter sent to cannabis retailers on June 15, 2026, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) warns of ongoing negotiations and a possible labour disruption if union demands are not met following a final bargaining session with the OCS on June 22. The union represents approximately 200,000 members across Ontario, including employees at the OCS.
The OPSEU represents a specific bargaining unit of employees at the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation (OCRC)—which operates as the OCS—rather than the entire OCS workforce. In April 2022, the OCS and OPSEU ratified their first collective agreement, which spanned three years, from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2025. In its 2025-2028 Business plan, the OCS said it expected to begin engaging with OPSEU in 2025 on discussions related to a new collective agreement.
Unlike the two job actions in BC in 2022 and 2025 that severely impacted distribution, Ontario’s centralized, wholesale distribution warehouse is operated by a third-party contractor, Domain Logistics, whose workers are not unionized.
The bargaining unit represented by OPSEU/SEFPO at the OCS consists largely of front-line corporate and contact centre personnel. While management is excluded, various roles are governed by the Ontario Public Service (OPS) Unified Collective Agreement.
Within the OCS, this typically includes positions such as Customer Care and Contact Centre Representatives, who manage B2B and B2C relations, as well as Creative Project Specialists and Administrative Assistants. Other unionized staff work in specialized functions, including Digital Product Specialists and various Finance and Accounting roles, such as Financial Administrative Assistants.
Many in the cannabis industry are understandably concerned. The most recent strike in BC, which affected public-sector workers at the BC Liquor Distribution Branch’s cannabis warehouse, lasted more than a month, with sales in the province declining by nearly one-quarter. At the same time, any potential strike might not have the same impact as in BC, but even the possibility of disruption is concerning for businesses that are often struggling to keep the lights on each month in a highly competitive industry.
Read the full article at StratCann
