The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation locked out 1,500 workers at three provincial casinos after labor contract negotiations stalled.
Ontario gaming regulators on September 19 locked out 72 workers at Sudbury Downs Racetrack Slots, another 600 at Casino Brantford, and the rest at the Slots at Woodbine Racetrack.
The sites remain open to visitors, but at reduced hours due to the reduced staffing levels and abilities. Non-union staff and management will run the casinos until the labor dispute is resolved.
The primary issues under contention are increases in wages, improved benefits, and creation of a future pension plan that is equal to the current Public Service Pension Plan.
Many of the locked out union workers have been without a labor contract for months and are members of Unifor, which represents 7,000 workers in Canada’s gaming industry.
About 36 percent of gaming staff at Ontario casinos are unionized.
