Casino Workers in New Westminster, Burnaby Brace for Strike, Survey Reveals Prevailing Support

The past more than four months have shown that a strike is able to achieve more when it comes to British Columbia’s gaming field and further. Now the field is threatened by another crippling walkout as this Saturday brought the results of a recent poll of Starlight Casino, New Westminster and Grand Villa Casino, Burnaby which could prompt another chapter of the strike saga in the province.

The gaming field of British Columbia might be on the verge of yet another prolonged strike involving employees seeking their rights, as it has been revealed recently. A survey seeking the opinion of casino employees of two gambling venues in the region showed that there has been a prevalent discontent with the status quo which could prompt the move.

About 79 percent of the employees of Starlight Casino stated that they would walk out, whereas some 88.6 percent of the workforce of Grand Villa Casino gave their resounding Yes.

Workers Back a Strike for Their Rights

The British Columbia Government and Service Employees’ Union made the official announcement that a recent poll has sought the opinion of employees of the two locations. As it turns out they have generated quite the discontent and a large part of the workforce appears to be more than willing to take it to the streets. Once they have voiced their position and willingness to start a strike, the next step would be meetings to be held by Bargaining Committees seeking a plan for action and eventual resolution.

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

Workers at the two casino venues are dissatisfied with their current wagers and they have demands regarding their benefits which has prompted their move. Now it is only a matter of time before planning of the strike commences with the help of the two bargaining committees protecting the rights of the two casino venues. Preparation of the picketing has already commenced and as it turns out, the representatives of the staff are willing to take this strike’s organization on a new level.

This week is going to see the mandatory picket captain training process commence which is going to see many of the volunteers previously applied for the process being approached by the committees. This position usually bears the weight of negotiating conditions and benefits. In order to maintain communication throughout the strike at top level, phone numbers and emails of all employees participating in the picked are needed.

Two Bargaining Committees Take Next Steps

The Bargaining Committees of both casino venues are set to issue updates on a regular basis via emails sent to all members, which is why it is mandatory that all participants in the picket keep in touch. Both gambling facilities are overseen by Gateway Casinos, a casino developer and operator which has seen quite eventful past few months.

The beginning of this month saw the long-anticipated tentative agreement between Gateway Casinos and the British Columbia Government and Service Employees’ Union. After a nearly 5-month strike of the casino venues in Penticton, Kelowna, Kamloops, and Vernon, some 700 workers were happy to return to their workplaces. The negotiated arrangement covers the following four years of operation at the aforementioned casino venues, featuring some crucial improvements to their contracts.

The venues were to the liking of Cascades Kamloops, Cascades Penticton, Playtime Kelowna, and Lake City Vernon. According to the official announcement, among the agreed new conditions there is an update to the benefits scheme for each employee, in addition to an increase of the wager of an average of 23.5 percent. Some 259 workers supported this arrangement, while 252 expressed their opposition to it, but eventually this meant that the contract ratification passed.

Now it is only a matter of time before employees of the two casino venues in New Westminster and Burnaby follow the example of their fellow casino employees. Upcoming days are set to bring more updates coming straight from the Bargaining Committees. Such protest would impact the future operation of the two venues, subsequently hitting their revenue. The communities will also suffer in the aftermath, as they will be deprived of some portion of the tax revenue generated by the facilities.