About 900 workers from Casino Ajax and Pickering Casino Resort have gone on strike after their union rejected a tentative agreement earlier this week.
The strike began on Friday. Outside the Pickering casino, picketers filled an intersection, chanting “equal work, equal pay!” loudly.
Greg Weaver, president of Unifor Local 1090, which represents staff like housekeepers, cashiers, and security guards, said that employees at both casinos are earning less than those at other casinos in the Greater Toronto Area doing similar jobs under the same management.
“We’re going to [strike] 24/7 until the company gets back to the table with us and brings the fair wages that we need,” Weaver stated during a news conference at the picket line. “We need parity and we need it now.”
The Ajax and Pickering casinos are part of a dozen properties run by Great Canadian Entertainment including Great Canadian Casino Resort in Toronto, previously known as Woodbine Casino.
The organization has been negotiating for several months, Chuck Keeling, the company’s executive vice president, mentioned in a statement.
“Regrettably, despite our best efforts, we have not been successful in reaching an agreement,” he noted.
Keeling indicated that while labor action continues, the casinos will stay open but some services might be affected. He assured that the company remains committed to ongoing discussions with the union while also providing a good experience for guests in the meantime.
Union Aims for Wage Equality Across Locations
Wages were a major issue throughout what were otherwise productive negotiations, Weaver told reporters. He pointed out that wages at the Toronto location range from $2 to $4 higher than what staff earn at Ajax and Pickering casinos.
Tensions flared earlier this week when union members voted against a tentative deal – which included a 14 percent wage hike over four years – by about two-thirds margin, according to Weaver.
“That tells me that these members are not going to accept anything … that low,” he remarked. “They want to be paid.”
Weaver added that for some roles, even a 14 percent increase wouldn’t bring them up to equal pay.
He emphasized that they will continue striking for “as long as it takes” until they secure wage parity.
Samuel Ho, a table games dealer at Pickering casino and chairperson for the union, expressed commitment among members to push for better pay.
“At end of day, none of us want to strike,” Ho said. “We want a fair deal. We want to be able to be equal to our counterparts.”
Source link
