Alternative Media Group

Casino strikes heat up

Author:

Ehssan Veiszadeh

Posted:

Thursday, 4 February 2010

Staff at Star City Casino have continued to walk off work in a dispute with management over pay.

This weekend staff striked on three separate occasions.

“The number of staff taking part in industrial action has increased with each action,” LHMU NSW Secretary Mark Boyd said.

Last week, staff voted against an offer from the casino which included a two-percent payrise in its first year.

Mr Boyd said the strikes are gathering momentum, with more than 600 staff taking part. “There have been significant disruptions to the casino’s operations, with pits and some entrances closed.”

According to him, there has also been pressure on supervisors to work overtime to cover striking staff. “Management continues to threaten to lock staff out if they take industrial action. This is an over the top response to members’ action.

“Some staff, including those from housekeeping and food & beverage, were made to vote in their supervisors’ offices,” Mr Boyd said.

Peter Grimshaw, spokesperson for Star City Casino, said the union led protests were losing support. “We would make the point that we put our package to the vote last week, it was defeated by just 31 votes,” Mr Grimshaw said.

“There were 1031 votes against the package and 1000 votes for the package. Last time we put the package up for a vote, it was defeated by about 200.”

“So there is a swing towards the Star City package which includes a 9 per cent wage rise over three years, higher allowances and back pay.”

Mr Grimshaw dismissed Union claims that the strikes caused significant disruptions to business. “The strike action will not achieve anything except a further loss of wages for those taking part. Certainly, it will have no impact on our business. All our operations will be open as usual throughout the strike,” he said.

He added the casino planned to put the salary package up for another vote soon and that they were hopeful it would be accepted by staff.

Mr Boyd said the protests would continue until the casino made a fair offer to its staff. “Star City management needs to listen to its staff who have now voted three times against its unfair proposals,” Mark says.

“The turn out to the previous two strikes was overwhelming even under the threat of a lock out. Staff have shown they will stick together to get a fair wage outcome.”

by Ehssan Veiszadeh

Staff and Union representatives say strikes will continue until a fair payrise is offered (Photo: Reza Falamaki)

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