Shorelines Casino Belleville workers strike after rejecting offer
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Ninety-three Shoreline Casino Belleville workers represented by Unifor Local 1090 went on strike Friday after turning down their very first collective agreement offer by casino owners Great Canadian Gaming earlier this week.
Bargaining committees for both sides continued labour talks during the day after workers formed a picket line across the entrance of the Bell Boulevard gaming facility.
“Local 1090 members at Shorelines Belleville rejected the employer’s most recent offer by 84 per cent on Oct. 20. The union represents 93 workers at the casino in table games, slots, food and beverage, kitchen and culinary, facilities and housekeeping, guest services, and cashiering,” the union said in a statement.
Holding flags and strike placards, casino workers blocked entry to each vehicle for a few minutes before allowing visiting patrons to enter the casino which remains open.
Belleville Police attended the scene briefly at one point but did not interfere in the strike action by workers.
Deliberations focusing on hourly pay raises and employee benefits have slowed bargaining efforts by both parties to secure a first-ever collective agreement at Shorelines Casino Belleville, said a union official.
In an interview, Corey Dalton, president of Unifor Local 1090, said on the picket line negotiations are progressing and the gap appears to be closing in talks but noted the latest wage increase offer by casino owners was not satisfactory to members.
“The final proposal they issued to us on Monday that we put to a vote to our members would have resulted in 62 of our 93 members being within 65 cents of minimum wage,” Dalton said. “That’s what the outcome would have been.”
General minimum wage in Ontario is $14.35 an hour, liquor server is $12.55 an hour.
“If you look at the industry average here in Ontario … the employer’s proposal would have resulted in workers being paid here on average $4.10 less than the industry average.”
Shoreline Casino Belleville’s unionized members work in 18 job classifications and earn $12.55 for a liquor server an hour to more than $20 an hour for a slot technician.
Dalton said that it’s the first time a picket line has gone up at Shorelines Casino Belleville and pointed out that it is also the first time in the union’s Local 1090 history that members voted to strike while negotiating a first collective agreement with a new employer.
“At the end of the day, it’s economics. The employer here is trying keep expenses down. Easiest way of saying it. The labour costs, they want to minimize them, every avenue they can take to keep costs down.”
Dalton said after talks late Thursday into Friday, “we finally recognized that we were not going to be able to get an agreement. We’re still in contact with the employer which is a really positive sign. Our goal is to get an agreement, take this down as soon as possible and get all of these workers back to work.”
Chuck Keeling, executive vice-president, Stakeholder Relations and Responsible Gaming with Great Canadian Gaming Corp, said Friday morning in an emailed statement the company was disappointed its unionized members have set up a picket line.
“Shorelines Casino Belleville has dedicated a significant amount of time and resources in attempting to achieve a first collective bargaining agreement with Unifor, and have tabled a proposal that is fair, reasonable and above market conditions,” Keeling said. “We are disappointed that Unifor has chosen to strike, and we remain committed to resolving the impasse for the benefit of our team members and guests.”
Keeling said the gaming industry has experienced Ontario government restrictions and closures imposed on casinos throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Shorelines Casino Belleville, like all casinos in Ontario, was mandated to suspend operations by the provincial government in March 2020 to support the efforts to contain COVID-19, and reopened and closed several times thereafter. It reopened again on July 16, 2021, with significant health and safety restrictions, including reduced gaming capacity to reflect physical distancing requirements,” Keeling said.
“We were very pleased to see a portion of our team return to work with the reopening, and we continue to remain focused on the rebuilding of the business longer term.”
Keeling said, “despite the strike by Unifor members, Shorelines Casino Belleville will remain open.”
