Montreal Casino croupiers begin unlimited general strike

Croupiers at the Montreal Casino launched an unlimited general strike Saturday, citing salary cutbacks for new employees and poor working conditions that are leading to physical injuries as the main issues.

The strike began at 9 a.m. Saturday and will continue until negotiations with Loto-Québec are resolved, union representative Jean-Pierre Proulx said.

Workers staged a picket line in the afternoon, marching from the Île-Ste-Hélène métro station to the casino.

“One in two of our employees suffers physical injuries due to the nature of the work, which includes dealing nearly 10,000 cards a day, five to six days a week,” Proulx said. “After 15 years on the job, that starts to add up,” resulting in tendinitis and other repetitive strain injuries, he said.

The launching of the unlimited strike follows two work stoppages last weekend staged by employees to denounce stalled negotiations.

Loto-Québec, which manages the province’s casinos, said it is disappointed with the strike, but said operations at the Montreal casino will continue as normal and clients will have access. Gaming tables, restaurants, slot machines and shows are running as normal, while the poker lounge is closed.

The collective agreement that regulates the working conditions of 521 dealers expired on March 31, 2020, with salaries and schedules among the issues at stake.

Because of shortened shifts, croupiers often have to work six days a week to accumulate more than 30 hours on their paycheques, Proulx said.

Loto-Québec issued a statement saying it offers safe and optimal working conditions to its employees.

“However, the croupiers at the Montreal Casino are asking for 30 minutes of paid break for each hour worked. They would, therefore, spend more than 30 per cent of their shift on paid break, which is unusual in the industry,” the provincial lottery corporation said.

As well, Loto-Québec is seeking a 10-per-cent decrease in the salary for starting employees, dropping from the current $18.40 an hour to $17.44, Proulx added.”In the current context of labour shortages, (the salary reduction) is irresponsible and the union will never accept it,” Proulx said. “We are demanding better management of work shifts and rest breaks to avoid injuries.”

Loto-Québec counters the opening salary is 20 per cent more than what’s offered in the market.

Loto-Québec says it wants to reach a “responsible negotiated agreement” and said the negotiations were similar to what was accepted by other CUPE-affiliated unions at other casinos it operates.

Negotiations between the union and Loto-Québec went till midnight on Friday and are continuing, Proulx said.