A fire last week at a construction site adjoining the SkyCity Casino in Auckland, New Zealand has led to widespread criticism of SkyCity Entertainment’s response and resulted in a walkout Thursday by about 1,000 casino employees.
The fire at an under-construction convention center caused the structure’s roof to collapse and nearby businesses to be evacuated. Casino workers later complained that they were ordered back to the job while firefighters were still on the scene, and say they suffered the effects of smoke inhalation. Three employees reportedly fainted. The fire was under control by late last week.
The blaze broke out last Tuesday afternoon after a construction worker reportedly left a blowtorch unattended, sending plumes of black smoke into the air. Workers across the city were warned to stay inside and close their windows. SkyCity was also forced to evacuate the wider SkyCity precinct, including the casino, SkyTower, hotels, car park, restaurants and corporate offices.
Due to open in 2020, the $450 million International Convention Centre is a centerpiece of SkyCity’s expansion at SkyCity Auckland.
Graeme Stephens, chief executive of SkyCity, said it was the first time in the company’s history it had evacuated its entire complex, including casinos, hotels and restaurants. Later, however, 1,000 SkyCity workers—about one-third of the total workforce—walked off the job due to lingering safety concerns.
“It wasn’t the fire that was the hazard, it’s the stuff that we’re breathing in. And we were breathing it in for far too long,” union leader Joe Carolan said. “Once you get out of your car you can smell and taste the burning in your throats from the particles in the air. We’ve had reports that three people have fallen down today. Our cashiers on the main floor … are feeling dizzy, feeling burning in their throat. These are workers who are in enclosed spaces for long hours, often on their feet.”
A SkyCity spokesperson said they don’t expect the strike will affect casino services “I know they’ve claimed there will be 1000 people striking. I don’t know if that’s accurate,” the spokesperson said. “We have completed a really thorough health and safety check. We have followed out a number of very thorough checks. “We’ve had an independent third party come in, a hygienist, and signed it all off and authorized it. We’ve worked with WorkSafe. “Of course they have a right to strike but we are 100 per cent confident that our business is safe and welcome for customers to come in.”
SkyCity said that the air quality in the casino “has been rigorously monitored over the past three days, consistently meeting all regulatory standards, at no stage showing any level of threat.”
