News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, June 5, 2010
RWDSU won’t cross picket line at Casino Regina
REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN – Solidarity has never been so sweet, as more than 230 members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) walked out yesterday, in support of their Casino Regina coworkers –– and members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) –– already on strike.
“We’re here to support PSAC,” says Sandra Nicholls, Casino Regina employee for more than 13 years. “It’s their fight, but there’s strength in numbers. Even though we’re two separate unions, we’re one at heart. We’re brothers and sisters.”
Although RWDSU received a 96 per cent mandate to take strike action if necessary, they are not officially on strike; they’re officially supporting PSAC. They’re own contract negotiations will begin on June 7.
“We all fight the same battles,” says Fran Mohr, employee of Casino Regina since it opened in 1996. “We are so grateful to have our brothers and sisters from RWDSU marching in solidarity with us. It really helps keep everyone energized and motivated on the line.”
The latest blow to Casino Regina paralyzed the April Wine concert, which had been scheduled to play last night. With the Union that represents all bartenders, cocktailers, servers, bussers, cooks, and dishwashers walking the line, the services inside were extremely limited.
PSAC members have been on strike since Thursday at 6:00 p.m. The Union has been in negotiations with the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation (SGC) since September of 2009 and its members have been without a contract since May 31, 2009. Currently there are no dates scheduled to return to the bargaining table.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada represents approximately 425 members working at Casino Regina. PSAC represents 172,000 workers, the majority of whom are in the federal public sector.
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