Unionized workers at a trio of casinos in the Canadian province of Manitoba have voted to strike if their efforts to agree on a new contract with Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation are not successful by December 23.

The 750 employees represented by the Local 144 Unifor trade union work as cashiers, dealers, slot attendants, and customer service representatives at the Shark Club Casino, Club Regent Casino, and McPhillips Station Casino and have been laboring without a contract for almost 18 months.

Yuletide Engagement

In an effort to break the long-running log jam in negotiations, Local 144 Unifor revealed that 98 percent of its membership employed by the casino-operating Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation recently voted to take strike action if a new contract could not be finalized by the start of the upcoming Christmas holidays.

Salary Stagnation

The Western Regional Director for Unifor, Gavin McGarrigle, revealed wages for the balloted casino employees have increased by just 1.75% since 2017 while Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation last year raked in an annual profit of some $546.4 million.

“We don’t have endless patience,” McGarrigle said. “A serious offer from the employer is required to get bargaining back on track. Unifor members make Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation wildly profitable. They’ve earned a fair contract.”

McGarrigle went on to proclaim his organization represents security staff, housekeepers, and grounds staff at the three Manitoba casinos and now plans to initiate strike action from midnight on December 23 should Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation fail to make a new contract offer.

Delay Dissatisfaction

The National President for Unifor, Lana Payne, stated her organization is the largest private sector union in Canada with approximately 315,000 members ‘in every major area of the economy’ and is committed to advocating ‘for all working people and their rights’ while striving to ‘create progressive change for a better future’. 

She furthermore accused the state-owned Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation of ‘disrespect’ and ‘foot-dragging’ before asserting the casino workers ‘deserve a strong collective agreement’.

“Management has left us little choice but to take job action,” Payne said. “My message to this employer; step up and bring a serious offer.”

Michigan Movement

The move from the Manitoba casino workers comes just a few days after the almost 4,000 employees of the MGM Grand Detroit ended a 47-day standoff by ratifying a fresh five-year contract. This agreement saw staff at the 400-room Detroit venue secure immediate 18% pay rises with added bonus options alongside workload reductions, no increases in healthcare costs and technology and job protections.