Casino strikes have been occupying the public space of British Columbia for many months across this year, but now another two casino venues managed to avoid another extensive period of picketing as agreements were negotiated. Gateway Casinos’ two locations in Burnaby and New Westminster succeeded in negotiating favorable conditions for future operation and there will be no need for a strike at this point.
Grand Villa Casino in Burnaby and Starlight Casino in New Westminster were on the verge of taking matters to the streets, as casino workers were willing to fight for their rights and demand more favorable working conditions. As many as 1,200 individuals members of the British Columbia’s Government and Service Employees’ Union considered the possibility that a strike is their only way to reach their goals.
Casino Workers Change their Mind on Strike
Towards the end of November said individuals part of the workforce of Gateway Casinos and Entertainment made it clear that they are willing to bring another crippling walkout of casino workers to the region. Back then a survey among them showed that about 79 percent of the workers of Starlight Casino, as well as some 88.6 percent of the employees of Grand Villa Casino, were ready to protest.
Gateway Casinos members have spoken: Starlight voted 79% and Grand Villa 88.6% in favour of a strike. Bargaining Committees are meeting to plan next steps.
— BCGEU (@bcgeu) November 24, 2018
As it turned out all they needed were more conversation and renegotiation of their working contracts, making sure they work under the best conditions possible. Following a period of meetings with the Bargaining Committees of the two venues, a plan for action was devised. Over the span of the upcoming four years the unionized workers will remain in their workplace thanks to brand new contracts bringing them the conditions they need.
Across the following four years, workers at both casino venues will see a 15-percent jump in their wages, happening in a gradual manner until the end of the agreement. The union made it clear that some of the workers being paid the lowest wages will witness an increase of 20 percent by the fourth year of the contract.
Crippling Walkout Was Averted
Employees changed their mind when it comes to a casino strike once Gateway Casinos was able to provide them with a tempting offer. It is going to ensure all workers have fair work conditions and they make the most of their schedules. Grand Villa Casino has more than 800 employees members of the union and they were ready to leave the casino venue behind in favor of the strike.
This would have significantly impacted the normal operation on site and therefore brought revenue loss to the casino developer and operator. In turn, the community of Burnaby would have suffered by the decreased revenue tax allocated to it. Meanwhile, Starlight Casino in News Westminster featured some 450 individuals willing to go to the picket line in an attempt to fight for their rights. This venue launched operation in 2017 overseen by Gateway Casinos.
It features some 850 slot devices available on site, as well as 44 table games and a private gaming room. Grand Villa Casino, on the other hand, has some 1,200 slot devices, as well as 64 table games sprinkled across the gaming floor. Workers willing to walk out ranged from slot attendants, and cashiers in the count room, to staff in the kitchen, security personnel, and maintenance.
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