Bargaining for Chatham Cascades Casino employees begin as strike deadline nears
Employees at Chatham Cascades Casino could set foot on the picket line if a deal is not reached by Wednesday night.
125 members, represented by Unifor Local 444, will be in a legal strike position on Wednesday, November 22 at 11:59 p.m. if a tentative deal is not reached between the union and the company.
On November 15, 97 per cent of employees at the casino voted in favour to strike.
Chatham Cascades workers are looking specifically for higher wages to keep up with the cost of living, and the rising cost of inflation.
Bargaining will take place starting today, and will look to follow a pattern agreement set by Starlight Casino Point Edward, in Point Edward.
The deal at Point Edward was ratified by members on November 11, with 65.8 per cent voting in favour.
Dave Cassidy, President of Unifor Local 444, says bargaining will follow pattern.
"We have the Chatham Casino, we have the Sarnia Casino, we have Point Edward Casino that we represent on top of Caesars. We just finished off with our Point Edward Casino, and ratified that last week, so we actually pattern bargain go into Chatham."
He says wages will be top bargain priority.
"Wages are always the top. Everybody wants money, I mean the way our economy is, with the rises in inflation and everything else, people are looking for money. It's top everyday. It's a lot of struggles, and people look for money."
Cassidy says the union was able to get an increase in wages for Point Edward Casino employees.
"We made 13 per cent was the gains there. And we're going to make the same in Chatham, or we're going to look at some different issues around that. We have some different work place issues that we've got to deal with and we'll get through it."
If a deal is not reached by Wednesday night, the casino will close and employees will hit the picket lines.
At the Point Edward Casino improvements were made in most areas of the agreement, including wages, benefits, and language improvements.
Chatham Cascades Casino is located at 615 Richmond Street.