The members of Unifor Local 144, who are employed at Winnipeg’s three casinos, recently voted in favor of potential strike action if they fail to sign a new contract by the end of this month.
This decision comes after months of negotiations between the union and the management of McPhillips Station Casino, Club Regent Casino and the Shark Club Casino.
Unifor Local 144 represents over 750 employees working in various roles at the three casinos, including dealers, cashiers, slot attendants, security personnel, house/grounds staff, customer service representatives and skilled trades workers.
The workers have been without a collective agreement for nearly a year and a half, since June 2022. During this period, wages have only seen a meager increase of 1.75 percent, which has left the employees dissatisfied with their current working conditions.
Lana Payne, Unifor president, expressed her disappointment with the management’s approach to negotiations, stating that the workers deserve a strong collective agreement and not the foot-dragging and disrespect they have been facing. The union is demanding better wages, improved working conditions and increased job security for its members.
In a recent vote, 98 percent of the union members expressed their willingness to go on strike if a satisfactory agreement is not reached by the December 23 deadline. This strong show of support demonstrates the frustration and determination of the workers to secure a fair contract. The potential strike action is planned to begin at 12:01 a.m., just two days before Christmas.
The strike, if it proceeds as planned, could have significant implications for the casino industry in Winnipeg. With all three major casinos affected, operations could be severely disrupted, leading to potential revenue losses for the establishments. Additionally, the strike could impact the local economy, as the casinos are major employers in the region.
The management of the casinos has yet to respond publicly to the union’s demands and the looming strike action. However, with the deadline drawing near, it is expected that negotiations will intensify in an attempt to reach a resolution before the strike begins.
