Unifor Local 1090 is the labor union protecting the rights of many Canadian casino workers in Ontario. It recently announced that tentative agreements regarding workers at Pickering Casino Resort and Casino Ajax have been reached just recently and this spells good news for the individuals seeking better work conditions.
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, recently rebranded to Great Canadian Entertainment oversees the two locations. These two casino locations have witnessed their workers on the picket line ever since July 23, 2022. The main goal of this strike is an overall salary increase and a reduction of the employer’s reliance on a precarious part-time workforce. Casino workers seek better conditions and as negotiations had not worked, a strike was the way to go.
Tentative Agreement
August 4, 2022 witnessed the official inking of the tentative agreements individuals have been looking forward to. Lana Payne, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer, expressed her sincere congratulations to the unionized members that ended up reaching their goal and seeking better conditions and fair treatment down the road. More details on the tentative agreement is about to be released in the foreseeable future.
August 5, 2022 is expected to witness the membership ratification votes which is the next mandatory step of this process. Corey Dalton, President of Local 1090, made it clear that the negotiations that took place were not the easiest, as the casino operator has its own position, and changing it was not an easy task. Unionized casino workers took a principled stand for better working conditions and ended up reaching a beneficial tentative agreement.
Mr. Dalton also made it clear that the casino workers of Ontario deserve stability during these trying times. Back in July, Unifor Local 1090 members met for a coordinated bargaining table seeking an overall improvement. Another thing that needed to be changed is the reliance on part-time jobs that existed.
Negotiations Continue
It could be recalled that several land-based casino locations overseen by Great Canadian Entertainment have already reached successful agreements. Back in July, locations to the likes of Great Blue Heron Casino, Casino Woodbine, Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands, and Shorelines Casino Peterborough, Elements Casino Mohawk, and Elements Casino Brantford managed to reach the goal they had set when it comes to union negotiations.
However, talks continue at Pickering Casino Resort and Casino Ajax, as only a tentative agreement has been reached. It could be recalled that earlier this week a moving vehicle hit a striking casino worker at the legal picket line at Casino Woodbine. The individual had to be brought to hospital in an ambulance, as he suffered a concussion requiring stitches and a broken ankle. The casino worker is currently recovering at home.
It should be noted that Great Canadian Gaming Corporation’s contract security officials initially refused to provide the police officers with the video of the said vehicular assault.
Source: “Unifor reaches tentative agreements with casinos in Pickering and Ajax“, Cision, August 4, 2022
