Agreement reached with between Unifor and two GCE casinos

A conclusion to the strikes at two Great Canadian Entertainment casinos in Ontario could soon come to a close after a “tentative” agreement was signed. 

The current details of the agreement are unknown, but will be revealed following the membership ratification vote – set to get underway today. 

Lana Payne, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer, explained: “My sincere congratulations to the Local 1090 members who took on a powerful employer to fight for what was fair.”

Unifor members at Pickering Casino Resort and Casino Ajax have been on strike since July 29, 2022 after a coordinated bargaining table for members at GCGC properties met up last month to seek improvements to wages, benefits and pensions. 

In addition, negotiators for Unifor were also aiming to reduce the employer’s reliance on precarious part-time jobs. 

“These were tough negotiations and we were able to get to a tentative agreement because members took a principled stand for better working conditions,” noted Corey Dalton, President of Local 1090. “Gaming sector workers deserve fairness during these uncertain economic times.”

On July 23 Unifor negotiators signed agreements for GCE sites Great Blue Heron Casino, Casino Woodbine, Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands, Shorelines Casino Peterborough, Elements Casino Mohawk and Elements Casino Brantford.

The agreement follows a picket line, which was started last week, at the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation owned Casino Woodbine after negotiations between the firm and trade union Unifor broke down.