Pickering, Ajax casino workers ready to return to work after tentative agreement reached

The union representing striking workers at casinos in Pickering and Ajax says a tentative deal has been reached with Great Canadian Entertainment.

Unifor, which is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy, said details of the tentative agreement will be released following the ratification votes to be held later today (August 5).

The casino workers have been on strike since July 23 as the union pushed for wage increases and for the company to reduce its reliance on part-time staff. Unifor negotiators signed agreements for Great Canadian sites Great Blue Heron Casino, Casino Woodbine, Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands, Shorelines Casino Peterborough, Elements Casino Mohawk, and Elements Casino Brantford that day, leaving Pickering and Ajax as the only holdouts.

“These were tough negotiations and we were able to get to a tentative agreement because members took a principled stand for better working conditions,” said Corey Dalton, President of Local 1090. “Gaming sector workers deserve fairness during these uncertain economic times.”

The union says a striking worker suffered a broken ankle after he was hit by a car Sunday night while on a secondary picket line at the company’s Casino Woodbine location. A Unifor spokesman called the accident “deliberate.”

“My sincere congratulations to the Local 1090 members who took on a powerful employer to fight for what was fair,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer.

Including the latest tentative deal, the new agreements cover 1,830 Unifor members at eight casinos. Unifor represents 800 workers at the Pickering and Ajax casinos.

Great Canadian Entertainment has not made a public comment on the deal.