Unionized Gateway Casinos workers in Kamloops, 麻豆精选, Vernon and Penticton intend to walk off the job today at 3:01 p.m.
More than 675 Gateway workers affiliated with the BC Government and Service Employees鈥� Union will set up picket lines in front of the Cascades Kamloops, Cascades Penticton, Playtime 麻豆精选 and Lake City Vernon casinos after mediation talks broke down earlier this week.
BCGEU members work in table games, as slot attendants, cashiers, in the count room, kitchen, security, guest services and maintenance.
鈥淥ur members are asking for living wages that would bring them in-line with the industry standard for casino workers in B.C.,鈥� said BCGEU president Stephanie Smith.
鈥淭hese workers are the heart of their casinos. Gateway is a successful company in a highly profitable industry鈥攖hey can afford to pay their staff what they are worth.鈥�
In a vote held from June 4 to 6, more than 88 per cent of Gateway staff in all four Okanagan casinos came out and voted 93.1 per cent in favour of taking strike action.
On Monday, June 25, the union delivered the required 72-hours-notice of strike action.
Related: Gateway Casinos 鈥渇rustrated and disappointed鈥� about strike vote
Gateway鈥檚 Okanagan staff have been trying to negotiate a new collective agreement since the last one expired in September 2017.
Negotiations broke off in May after the employer refused to offer wages and benefits that are industry standard at comparable casinos.
Both parties met for a few days of mediated talks over the past two weeks but could not reach an agreement on key monetary issues.
鈥淭he wages Gateway are offering won鈥檛 even keep ahead of the planned minimum wage increases,鈥� Smith said.
鈥淥ur members will be standing strong on the picket lines until they get a fair offer from the company.鈥�
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