News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, June 2, 2010
All bets are off as Casino Regina employees prepare to strike
REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN – The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has served The Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation (SGC) with notice that its members working at Casino Regina will take strike action at 6:00 p.m. on Thurs. June 3, 2010.
The Union conducted a strike vote on May 18, 2010 and received a 97.4 per cent mandate to take strike action, if necessary. The Union and the employer met again on May 27, 2010; however, no agreement was reached. Outstanding issues include wage increases, family leave and night shift premiums – since the casino is open until 4 a.m., seven days a week.
“For us, it’s about a basic respect for the employees,” explains Robyn Benson, Regional Executive Vice-President for the PSAC Prairie Region. “The Casino employees often work long hours and late nights, yet they are paid well below many other Crown corporations. We have to look out for the health of not only our members, but their families, too.”
Although the Union was prepared to resolve without a strike and hopeful they could come to an agreement, the Employer retaliated to the strike notice by serving PSAC with a lock-out notice, taking action against those employees that are part of the bargaining unit. The notice also takes effect at 6:00 p.m. on Thurs. June 3, 2010.
The Union has been in negotiations with the SGC since September of 2009 and its members have been without a contract since May 31, 2009. The 48-hour strike notice is required under the Saskatchewan Trade Union Act.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada represents approximately 425 members working at Casino Regina. In total, PSAC represents over 172,000 workers across Canada, the majority of whom work in the federal public sector.
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