Workers at 8 Ontario casinos set Friday strike deadline
Posted July 18, 2022 10:10 am.
Last Updated July 18, 2022 10:11 am.
The union representing workers at eight Ontario casinos says members have voted to strike if new agreements cannot be brokered by Friday at midnight.
Unifor says the strike mandate covers 1,830 workers at eight Great Canadian Gaming Corporation locations, including Casino Woodbine in northwest Toronto.
“Casino employers have bounced back following the pandemic-related closures,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer.
“Our goal at the bargaining table is to share some of those gains with the workers who make casinos successful.”
The union says the bargaining teams have prioritized wages, benefits and pensions in negotiations and are also looking to convert part-time positions into full-time jobs.
“We value our customers and the relationships we’ve built with guests over the years,” said Corey Dalton, president of Unifor Local 1090. “Good wages and benefits translate directly into job satisfaction, and that’s good for business.”
Unifor represents 1,500 gaming workers at the Great Blue Heron Casino, Casino Woodbine, Pickering Casino Resort, Casino Ajax, Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands, and Shorelines Casino Peterborough.
The union also represents 30 security workers at Elements Casino Mohawk and 300 workers at Elements Casino Brantford, all of which fall under the ownership of Great Canadian Gaming Corporation.
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, which has 25 properties across four provinces, was acquired in September 2021 by Apollo Asset Management.
