The 800 workers at the Great Blue Heron Casino on Scugog Island in Ontario, Canada, had a lot to be thankful for as their union, Unifor, and the Great Blue Heron Gaming Company, managers of the gaming facility, agreed to a three-year contract to beat the 12:01 a.m. deadline, the day before the Canadian Thanksgiving on October 13. Later Unifor union members ratified the deal with 79 percent approval. The previous three-year contract expired September 30.
Unifor represents all dealers, slot technicians, food, beverage and kitchen staff, Players Club and guest services hosts and back-of-house cafeteria staff at the casino, as well as maintenance staff, table game dealers, slot machine attendants, restaurant, bar and housekeeping staff. The Great Blue Heron Gaming Company handled the negotiations from the casino’s side on behalf of the Baagwating Community Association and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
Steve Batchelor, president of Unifor Local 1090, said, “The three-year deal sees improvements in wages and benefits. We had a very respectful round of negotiations and we certainly believe that we’ve addressed a majority of the issues surrounding scheduling and working conditions for the workers.” He said the new benefits package puts workers on par with other casino employees across the province. Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation Chief Kelly LaRocca noted, “We are pleased to report for all concerned that there will be no labor disruption.”
On September 21, 91 percent of the 800 union-member casino employees voted to support a strike action, Batchelor said during negotiations.
