No, unions and government waste are what is wrong with the stores anyway.

Of course they should be privatized. Or let the state stores and employees compete with private stores.It's called free enterprise.

We all know the outcome! For the majority, it would save us gasoline and sales tax from driving to Namaans Rd. FREE ENTERPRISE! Got it?

Another reason Pennsylvania needs to follow Wisconsin's lead. Get the State out of liquor sales. Stop patronage and back room deals. Write your state reps and senators and don't re-elect those who don't vote for privatization.

Best of all worlds would be to let private liquor stores compete with State Stores....and watch the unions and state stores go bankrupt!! Would be further proof that government has no idea how to run anything! And I mean anything.

It might also be time to think about getting rid of the State monopoly featuring dirty sheds and grim clerks selling cases of warm beer. What a farce!

Of course, they should be required to honor a legal contract. In a free enterprise system, it will be reflected in the fair price they are willing to pay for the stores. What surprises me is the number of people who don't seem to know how free enterprise is supposed to work, and that where contracts are not enforced, or bend to political pressure, markets collapse.

If you worked for the state store . you wounldnt be witching.

I am generally in favor of unions when they help. I see no need to have a union to sell liquor from a State controlled system. I have yet to meet a State store employee who knew anything about the product beyond if it was in stock or not. Restaurants are hurt most by the limited selection of wines available and this hurts Philadelphia when compared to other cities. I think this contract is a desperate attempt of the union to put off the inevitable privatization of this product.

I have always found the state store employees very helpful. I travel a lot and depend on knowing where to find something. Pennslyvania state store employees have always saved me time and money. The price of any item in a Pa. state store, is the same as any store in Delaware, except Tri- State. It cost ten dollars to get there,unless your buying in bulk. The bigger state stores in Pa. have a better selection, then anybody, especially when it comes to fine wine. So APuck if you want good price. good service and a wide selection, stick with a well paid happy employee, who knows what thier doing, not some undocumanted counter person in Delaware, for the same price.

"A spokesman for Gov. Tom Corbett, who campaigned on privatizing the state stores, told Businessweek that private businesses cannot be made to honor contracts covering state employees."
Not sure I follow. Sure, the new labor contract can't directly obligate private companies. But it can prevent the state from selling off its liquor stores to private companies unless the state obligates the private companies, as a condition of the sale, to retain the store employees at their current salary.

Privatizing the liquor stores, I am not sure. The PA issue I have a problem with is, the beverage dealers and bars So many states let you buy individual 6-packs at convience stores. Who amongst us has not had to run around, and pay dearly for beer from a bar or pizza place. Just a screwy law that reeks of special interest.

David, I am sure you must have a beer distributor around your residence. Buy a case of beer, or a keg and keep it cold. By the time a convience store gets your case of beer, it's been handled so many times,and gone thru more tempatures changes then a 55 year old woman. I like the way it's done in Pa. We still have the #1 product. People are going back to, top quality products and service.If you want that type of convience store quality David, then drive down south, and get what you pay for.

Jim, if you are having 4 couples over how many kegs would u purchase if people have varied taste? In my post I stated convience stores when I should have also included grocery stores. It's been my experience that if you buy a six of Corrona at Piggly Wiggly, it is the same quality as if u purchased a case at a distributer. I can honestly say I have not experienced your "hands on theory". What about our system are you
thrilled about; paying more?

Look at what happened to the price of booze in Washington after they went private, up ,up,up.

Less government, more service and choice, get rid of pension obligations we cannot afford. We don't belong in the liquor business. babs

Do not publish my full name

To late Babs

Then David, drive to one of the tri- state liquor stores and get every thing you need at the same price. Make sure you add in your gas, wear and tear on your car, and all the yuppie beer you and your friends can drink, that cost 12 dollars a six pack, in all 52 states. If your having four couples over, you should know in advance, what they drink, and have it on hand. If you buy a six pack at a piggly wiggly, it been handled at least four times more, then at any beer distributor, and is already gone thru more hot and cold spells, then my 85 year old grandmother. Good Beer distributors get thier beer straight from the brewers. Yes David, I will pay more, to somebody thats a U.S. citizen, and can give me first rate service. I like to get in and out,and I like to support American Citizens.

I think you are wrong there Jim, if you purchase a case of imported beer, did it come directly from the brewer or from a third party ( handled more)? I would think an import company would also touch the product at some time.

Nevertheless, the current system in my mind is flawed, and should be changed.

I am going to just forget your implications that I am a bad host.

Cheers!

Everybody is missing the point who are the buyers of these stores???? Gov. Tom Corbett's friends & all the people that gave him one million dollars or more to get elected! all state stores make a profit so if it's not broke why change it.
Why let the rich get richer only a well off person can buy one of these stores. Please go to Camden Nj & see what a private store really looks like see what it brings, just more crime all around it. Unions save jobs! Please go to China or read up on China with no unions, do you want to work for 12 hours for 36 dollars a day? Please people think the mob use to run the business now the are trying to get it back!

The majority of people in this state want privatization. Corbett seems to have backed off on his commitment. Submit a referendum and let the people vote and be done with it. But that's too logical, and fair.

It's pathetic how antiquated and selfish this union and law is. Our system of gov. Is failing on the fed. and state levels. Politicians are insulated from the general public and do what they want.

Jim
12:20 pm on Thursday, June 7, 2012
I have always found the state store employees very helpful. I travel a lot and depend on knowing where to find something. Pennslyvania state store employees have always saved me time and money. The price of any item in a Pa. state store, is the same as any store in Delaware, except Tri- State. It cost ten dollars to get there,unless your buying in bulk. The bigger state stores in Pa. have a better selection, then anybody, especially when it comes to fine wine. So APuck if you want good price. good service and a wide selection, stick with a well paid happy employee, who knows what thier doing, not some undocumanted counter person in Delaware, for the same price.

Hilarious.

I've lived in states with state-run liquor stores and privately-run liquor stores, and private-run ends up with vastly superior stores - retail and luxury commodities have no reason to be government controlled. I really hope that the privatization efforts can work with the union - I'd love to have everyone keep their jobs through the transition.

I've had numerous problems with the liquor store in Media;
wrong order,
wrong amount,
not told when I will be shorted,
I've been given what the employees think is my order. I load it up, realize I'm short, and the employees want to inspect what I was loaded.

This is what no consequence for incompetence breeds.

I would appreciate the opportunity to take my business elsewhere.

What a joke. You have the biggest popultation center of the state 20 minutes from both NJ and DE. Gee, I wonder if they really worry about the legality of crossing state lines when you can save $5 or more on a single bottle let alone large purchases. They are losing so much business to the other states it would more than make up for any potential loss of state revenue. Not to mention, do they think all these union people will lose their jobs? Really? Who do they believe the private stores going to hire???

As a consumer I care about the product I purchase, its quality and its price. It is not my responsibility to be concerned with the wages that are paid or whether a service hires union or non union workers. As long as there are no crimes (e.g. sweat shops, underage workers, etc.) that's all that should matter. Since when did unionization become mandatory in this country. It amazes me how people will scream for free enterprise but only under certain conditions. The marketplace will take care of wages and benefits. Nobody forces anyone to work anywhere. People are free to seek jobs where they feel they are being paid fairly.

Whoever is running the store should be required to maintain a level of professionalism and competence. Wearing, what is close to pajamas and barely able to speak should not be permitted. I've met clerks who try and some who are even enthusiastic in providing service however gum chopping, PJ (or similar attire) wearing employees or possessing sour expressions are not professional. Reduces my confidence in anything they say. If unions want respect they need to appear and act with respect for themselves and customers.

What is Milne's position? Answer who knows. Milne won't say. Democrats oppose this bill but Duane Milne won't give an answer on the day of the scheduled vote. I wonder if he is giving an answer to those primarily Republicans who want to take away good union jobs. Could we just get an answer from Milne?

Some State store employees are helpful but private owners are service oriented. They also know their wines better. Private owners are more customer oriented whereas State employees are just that -- state employees. I also do not think the State that arrests DUIs ( and makes money from that) should also sell alcohol. Seems like the pusher is also benefiting financially from the arrests. I think the State needs to get out of the alcohol business so that expert owners can provide great information and great customer service. It seems to me there is a conflict of interest in selling liquor and then arresting on the other end. Double dipping. I say get out of the liquor business. And if a state employee is customer oriented hire that person in your private liquor shop.

Going to the state store is like going to the DMV. Who here as been to the Wine and Spirits on Main Street? There is one elderly man there at checkout who clearly should not be employed with any customer facing responsibilities.