ON STRIKE: Unionized workers at Ajax, Pickering casinos off the job
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Strike action has commenced at the Ajax and Pickering casinos after a new deal for unionized workers at the South Durham gambling halls was not reached by a weekend deadline.
Unifor Local 1090 had set a strike deadline of Friday, July 22 at midnight to reach a new agreement with Great Canadian Gaming Corporation for unionized casino workers across the province, including 226 employees at the Great Blue Heron Casino on Scugog Island and another 800 workers between the Ajax Casino and Pickering Casino Resort.
The union announced during the early morning hours of July 23 that it had reached a tentative agreement with the Scugog casino, which is located on the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation lands.
Both the Ajax and Pickering casinos will remain open 24 hour a day, every day of the week, offering slots and electronic table games. Live table games at the Pickering casino will be unavailable.
According to an online post by Unifor Local 1090, “casino guests should anticipate short delays upon arriving for informational purposes” and patrons are asked to “please approach the picket line slowly and safety. If you are in the area, the workers encourage you to honk to show your support as we fight to achieve a fair and equitable agreement.”
Emergency vehicles will be provided unobstructed access at all entrances at all times and vehicles will not be delayed trying to exit, said the online post.
The union also urged visitors, “in the interest of public safety,” to use the entrance west of the casino, off of Squires Beach Road, to avoid unsafe traffic backups on Church Street.
Unifor Local 1090 also suggests that gambling enthusiasts take their money out of Durham during the strike action.
“We strongly encourage guests who are looking for casino entertainment to visit Casino Rama Resort as an alternative while the strike is ongoing,” said the union.
Websites for both the Pickering and Ajax casinos have posted similar messages, advising the public of possible disruptions at the gaming houses.
“We have been in negotiations with Unifor in recent weeks in an effort to reach an agreement that provides our team members at (the Ajax and Pickering casinos) with fair and attractive wages, benefits and careers. Regrettably, Unifor has rejected our offer and has chosen to strike,” said Great Canadian Gaming.
On the Casino Ajax website, the company said it is “hopeful that this type of disruption will have a limited impact on our operations as we have developed contingency plans that will allow Casino Ajax to stay open. We are confident that we will be able to mitigate that disruption with the team we have in place and are committed to working diligently to deliver a great gaming experience.”
The Getaway restaurant at the Ajax casino will remain open, but with modified hours.
As well, the Casual restaurant at the Pickering casino will remain open Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.
“Over the past month, the management team has been at the bargaining table with Unifor and actively seeking solutions to the proposed bargaining articles that would result in a fair and equitable agreement for all. Unfortunately, we have not been able to secure a deal despite being transparent and collaborative in our negotiations,” said Great Canadian Gaming on the Pickering casino website.
The company added the main focus of bargaining has centred around “monetary and non-monetary articles such as compensation, work hours, transferring of roles and positions as well as clarification of job duties,” with working conditions and compensation the primary points of negotiation.
Talks between Great Canadian Gaming and ten bargaining units began on July 18, following a strike mandate vote in early July that saw employees vote overwhelmingly in favour of action if a new pact can’t be reached.
In an online post, the union stated that the co-ordinated 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.
Unifor is also seeking to increase the share of good, stable jobs by converting part-time or casual positions into full-time jobs.
“COVID-19 hit everybody hard and we’re just looking for a fair agreement that reflects the current economy and current cost-of-living and that’s what we’re trying to get,” said Rob Bicknell, a trustee with Unifor Local 1090 and union chair for the Scugog Island casino, a day after the negotiations began. “Our position is we’re looking for what’s fair, a fair agreement, and we’re not being unreasonable ... With the current state of the economy and we all know where the cost of living is going, we’re just looking to secure the future of our members.”
In an emailed statement, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation’s Chuck Keeling said the company “continues to negotiate with members of Unifor and is committed to reaching an agreement that provides our team members with fair and attractive wages, benefits and careers.”
