Canada Casino Workers Reach Agreements in Some Areas, Not in Others
Earlier this week, Unifor members across eight Great Canadian Gaming Corporations threatened to go on strike if new agreements were not negotiated by Friday.
On Saturday, the bargaining committees for those members reached a deal with the Ontario-based casinos.
What’s In The Agreement
"Gaming sector workers were pivotal to ensuring GCGC casinos rebounded following the COVID-19 shut-downs," Chris MacDonald, Assistant to the Unifor National President, said in a news release. "It has been a very difficult period for casino workers and these tentative agreements are a step in the right direction."
The following groups are part of the new agreements:
- Great Blue Heron Casino
- Casino Woodbine
- Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands
- Shorelines Casino Peterborough
- Security workers at Elements Casino Mohawk and Elements Casino Brantford
Details for the agreement were not released but will be “following the membership ratification votes to be held during the coming week.”
Some Didn’t Reach a Deal
Committees from Pickering Casino Resort and Casino Ajax are still in negotiations over this weekend and remain on strike.
"There is an unacceptable gap in the wages and benefits between workers doing the same job for the same employer an hour down the highway," Corey Dalton, President of Local 1090, said in a statement. "This strike is about fair working conditions across the gaming sector during uncertain economic times."
Three main Unifor groups are involved: Unifor 1090, 252, and 504.
Here are the sites which each represents.
- Unifor 1090: 1500 workers across Great Blue Heron Casino, Casino Woodbine, Pickering Casino Resort, Casino Ajax, Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands, and Shorelines Casino Peterborough.
- Unifor 252: 30 security workers at Elements Casino Mohawk.
- Unifor 504: 300 workers at Elements Casino Brantford, 275 workers at Elements Casino Mohawk (slots), and Elements Casino Flamboro. These collective bargaining agreements expire in fall 2022 and spring 2023, respectively.
Unifor represents approximately 315,000 workers and is Canada’s largest union in the private sector.
“The union advocates for all working people and their rights fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.”
