Gateway casinos in Ontario last week announced layoffs of some workers, an action the union laid on the doorstep of privatization and the crown corporation sale.
Unifor National President Jerry Dias issued this statement about the layoff of some employees: “Gateway’s decision to reduce the hours of operation at most of its Ontario casinos is a perfect example of why Unifor was against the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) modernization plan all along.”
He added, “Unifor stated all along that the sale of a crown corporation and its operations will negatively affect workers and good jobs in Ontario, and Gateway is doing just that.”
The union has been highly skeptical about gaming privatization. Following the outsourcing of gaming operations by OLG and the sale of assets, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment purchased several casinos in the province.
The layoff included six employees at Gateway Casino Point Edward, seven at Sudbury casino and six at Gateway Casinos Dresden, or a total of 19.
The union is hoping to minimize the need for layoffs. Richard Paquin, the national representative of the union, who is working with Local 444, said, “We’ll be talking with the employer and union members to discuss a variety of options to save good jobs and support workers and their families.”
He added, “If we’re successful, fewer workers will be laid off because no worker should have to pay the price of job loss resulting from privatization.”
OLG allowed privatization of casinos on the understanding that employees would be kept for one year. That one-year arrangement ended last month.
