Woodbine Casino Workers Prepared To Strike

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Published: March 26, 2013 12:25 pm EDT

It has been announced that workers within the casino area of Woodbine Racetrack have voted in support of strike action.

The news comes courtesy of a release by the Public Service Alliance of Canada, which represents Woodbine's casino workers.

"With Toronto and many municipalities considering casinos, it is crucial to see what's happening at Woodbine when casino lobbyists talk about job creation", states Sharon DeSousa, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for Ontario. "With 55% of Woodbine's workforce in part-time positions, how can this industry continue to make the claim of providing good stable jobs?"

The contents of the release appear below.


Woodbine Workers Ready To Strike

On March 20, 2013, OLG Slots at Woodbine workers, who are represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), voted for strike action. PSAC has begun bargaining with Woodbine to address the issues workers are facing in their workplace, particularly the insecurity represented by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) Corporation's modernization plan.

The modernization plan calls for the privatization of facilities with the OLG currently in the process of assessing companies for take over. The instability of this transition, as well as the impact of whether the City of Toronto agrees to a casino, has created increased concerns for the workers at Woodbine.

"With Toronto and many municipalities considering casinos, it is crucial to see what's happening at Woodbine when casino lobbyists talk about job creation", states Sharon DeSousa, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for Ontario. "With 55% of Woodbine's workforce in part-time positions, how can this industry continue to make the claim of providing good stable jobs?"

PSAC and the OLG will be bargaining on March 26 and 27, and have secured a conciliation meeting date on March 28, 2013. The OLG's privatization plan, job security, as well as the precarious nature of part-time employment are major issues in negotiations.

"The OLG should recognize the years of dedication and loyalty workers have given the company," states David Lewis, Woodbine worker and Local President. "We are bargaining to ensure that workers are protected during the modernization of the OLG. The work of our members contributes to customer experience and is crucial to the business needs of the OLG in contributing maximum revenue to the Ontario Government and their strategy of deficit reduction."

(PSAC)


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