Manitoba casino workers have ratified a new contract with Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, with 93 percent support.
That’s just in time for the holiday week between Christmas and New Years, when the three casinos – McPhillips Station, Club Regent, and the Shark Club– see a boost in traffic. Unifor Local 144, the union representing 750 dealers, cashiers, slot attendants, security, house/grounds, customer service representative and skilled-trades workers, had voted to go on strike Dec. 23 at 12:01 a.m. if a deal hadn’t been reached.
“That was part of our strategy,” Suzanne King, a national representative for Unifor, told CDC Gaming Reports. “To take the strike mandate and give them three weeks’ notice before we went out, to allow them time to come back with a fair offer.”
The four-year contract includes a 2.5% increase retroactive to June 2022, 2.75% in the second year, and 3% in each of the final two years for a total of 11.25%. Many workers will realize an additional 4.5% increase based on years of service and current rate of pay. The deal runs through June 4, 2026.
Dealer premiums will increase between $0.20 and $0.70 per hour. There’s also a lump-sum signing bonus between $600 and $1,800 (depending on hours worked).
“The workers are satisfied with this, but unfortunately this group had setbacks due to COVID shutdowns, so they lost a lot,” King said. “They’re looking forward to building on this momentum to get back to where they were over the next two years.”
Said an MLL spokesperson, “MLL is pleased it was able to come to a mutually beneficial agreement with the Unifor Bargaining Committee and one that ensures the casinos of Winnipeg and its employees will continue to welcome guests throughout this holiday season, which is a busy time of year at our casinos.”