Ontario Casino Union Prepares to Go on Strike

Categories: Canada, News | Published by: Dave Thomas | 19 Jul 2022

More than 1,800 casino workers from the casino union in Ontario said they will go on strike if they can’t agree on new contracts with Great Canadian Gaming Corporation.

Unifor, the private casino union that represents the 1,830 casino workers from 8 Great Canadian Gaming Corporation gambling operators, said that casinos in Canada recovered after the pandemic. However, casino workers still can’t feel the benefits of that increase in gambling revenue.

Improved Wages, Benefits, and Pensions

Lana Payne, Unifor’s national secretary-treasurer, said that while casinos “bounced back” after they were closed during the pandemic they didn’t share “those gains with workers” that made that happen.

The casino union wants its 1,830 Ontario casino members to get improved contracts, including croupiers, people working at slots, food and beverage services, security, culinary, cashiers, housekeeping, etc.

Unifor’s priority is to negotiate improved wages, as well as benefits and pensions. Union members also want part-time jobs to be converted into full-time positions.

Eight Casinos Will Be Affected

In a press release, Unifor confirmed that if there’s no breakthrough in negotiations with the gambling operator until Friday this week, operations of eight Ontario casinos will be impacted.

Unifor is the largest of all private sector unions in Canada. It represents 1,500 casino workers at the Pickering Casino Resort, Great Blue Heron Casino, Casino Woodbine, Casino Ajax, Shorelines Casino Peterborough, and Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands.

The union also acts in place of 300 casino employees at Elements Casino Brantford and 30 security workers at Elements Casino Mohawk.

All of these eight casinos are owned by Great Canadian Gaming Corporation. The previously government-owned gambling company was bought by investment firm Apollo Asset Management in September 2021. Great Canadian Gaming Corporation operates 25 locations in four Canadian provinces.