Honourable Trevor Jones, MPP
Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
400 University Avenue, 14th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1T7
RE: Use of Scab Workers at Great Canadian Entertainment Pickering, Ajax and Toronto Resort Casinos During Labour Dispute
Dear Minister Jones,
We are reaching out to highlight a serious labour dispute involving Great Canadian Entertainment (GCE).
About 1,000 Unifor members are currently on strike or have been locked out by this employer. They’ve been standing strong on the picket line for the last 10 weeks, fighting for fair pay and better working conditions. Sadly, they’ve faced violence from gaming patrons who refuse to respect our constitutional rights while we’ve adhered to court-determined picketing limits.
Moreover, just as concerning is the employer’s choice to use scabs or replacement workers during these disputes. It’s clear that an employer’s ability to bring in replacement workers during legal strikes or lockouts lets them sidestep genuine negotiations with workers. In every situation where scabs are used, it prolongs the conflict.
GCE is ramping up its tactics by hiring even more replacement workers for jobs typically held by Unifor Local 1090 members at the Pickering Resort Casino. You can see job postings for bargaining unit roles like Table Games Dealers that the company has recently put up. Additionally, they’ve hired replacement workers at the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto where security guards represented by our union have been locked out since July 23, 2026.
This situation is quite alarming. Since July 31, 2026, Unifor Local 1090 members have been striking at the Pickering and Ajax locations. These workers-including dealers, cage and coin operators, technicians, and food and beverage servers-began their action after turning down an offer that didn’t include wage increases necessary to close the pay gap with other casino employees in the Greater Toronto Area. Members at the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto were locked out when no agreement could be reached regarding wage increases to meet today’s rising living costs.
The hiring of replacement workers during a strike undermines collective bargaining rights by shifting power toward management. When management opts to replace unionized workers with scabs, it lessens any incentive for GCE to negotiate earnestly which drags out labour disputes and worsens hostility among those on picket lines already facing aggression from the public.
As previously mentioned, hostility towards striking workers has escalated recently leading to police involvement and even hospitalizations of injured strikers in extreme cases. Unifor members deal with daily verbal and physical threats making many feel unsafe while trying to exercise their fundamental right to strike.
The introduction of replacement workers will only worsen what is already a tense situation.
This dispute-and many others like it-shows why Ontario needs anti-scab legislation now more than ever. We would greatly appreciate any time you can spare to discuss this issue further along with the necessity for improved labour laws in Ontario. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Lana Payne Samia Hashi
National President Ontario Regional Director
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