Casino workers and Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries continue to try and hammer out a new deal for workers at three casinos before a Dec. 23 strike deadline.
Unifor Local 144 members voted 98 percent in favor of taking strike action on 12:01 a.m. Dec. 23 if an agreement isn’t reached by then.
The union is composed of more than 750 workers at McPhillips Station Casino, Club Regent Casino, and the Shark Club Casino. Unifor members work as dealers, cashiers, slot attendants, security, house/grounds, customer-service representative, and skilled trades workers.
According to sources from the union, meetings are set over three days next week and both sides are working hard to get a deal done.
“The two parties are continuing the bargaining process and actively working toward a mutually beneficial resolution,” said a spokesperson from Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries.
According to a statement earlier this month, workers have been without a collective agreement for 18 months – since June 2022. Wages have increased only 1.75 percent in six years.
“We don’t have endless patience. A serious offer from the employer is required to get bargaining back on track,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “Unifor members make Manitoba Lotteries wildly profitable. They’ve earned a fair contract.”
Lana Payne, Unifor National president, said, “Unifor members at Manitoba Lotteries deserve a strong collective agreement, not the foot dragging and disrespect we’re seeing from the company. Management has left us little choice but to take job action. My message to this employer: Step up and bring a serious offer.”
As the union is quick to point out, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries made a $740.9 million profit in 2022.
Unifor represents more than 315,000 workers in the Canadian private sector, in major areas of the economy.