Around 1800 Ontario Casino Workers Prepare to Strike Amid Contract Negotiations

Unifor members at eight Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (GCGC) casinos have voted to strike if new agreements cannot be negotiated by Friday, July 22 at midnight.

“Casino employers have bounced back following the pandemic-related closures. Our goal at the bargaining table is to share some of those gains with the workers who make casinos successful,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer.

The coordinated bargaining tables are prioritizing wages, benefits, and pensions for Unifor members working at table games, slots, security, cashiering, food and beverage, kitchen and culinary, guest services, housekeeping, and maintenance. The union is also seeking to increase the share of good, stable jobs by converting part-time or “casual” positions into full-time jobs.

“We value our customers and the relationships we’ve built with guests over the years. Good wages and benefits translates directly into job satisfaction and that’s good for business,” said Corey Dalton, president of Unifor Local 1090.

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Unifor Local 1090 represents approximately 1500 gaming workers at the Great Blue Heron Casino, Casino Woodbine, Pickering Casino Resort, Casino Ajax, Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands, and Shorelines Casino Peterborough. Unifor Local 252 represents 30 security workers at Elements Casino Mohawk. Unifor Local 504 represents 300 workers at Elements Casino Brantford with a strike mandate, plus 275 workers at Elements Casino Mohawk (slots) and Elements Casino Flamboro with collective agreements that expire in fall 2022 and spring 2023 respectively.

Great Canadian Gaming Corporation was acquired by Apollo Global Management Inc (NYSE: APO) in September 2021.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. 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.