The union representing more than 1,000 employees at Casino Rama is “appalled” that the gambling facility’s operator, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, is poised to end employee benefits at the end of this month and is taking the corporate giant to court.
Corey Dalton, the president of Unifor Local 1090, says the union has been negotiating with Gateway for seven weeks, pleading for an extension of benefits and urging the company to “explore” the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), which would “potentially provide some of our members with more than the current Canada Emergency Response Benefit program.
Gateway, according to Dalton, “insisted they would only provide the CEWS wage-subsidy and an extension of benefits beyond June 30 if 100 per cent of the cost of benefits are paid by the employees, and only if the union would agree” to 15 concessions.
Those conditions ranged from the closure of the employee cafeteria and stopping an employee shuttle to allowing supervisors to do union work that would “lead to a loss of hours and, potentially, jobs.”
Other concessions sought by Gateway included the amalgamation of positions and giving up “all bargained rights” for dealer breaks, which “opens the door to less breaks and less jobs,” Dalton claims.
“This is all about cutting staff and cutting costs, which will lead to a significant negative experience for guests and employees,” Dalton told OrilliaMatters.
Robert Mitchell, Gateway's director of communications and public affairs, did not answer specific questions. However, he provided the following statement.
"Our focus at this time remains on preparations for reopening, working with our partners in government and our employees to provide a safe and healthy environment for our guests and staff when we have authorization to reopen," Mitchell said in an email.
"Our discussions with Unifor are ongoing with a goal to achieve this​ result."
Dalton says the union is fighting mad over Gateway's "shameful" approach.
“We have filed a grievance for a violation of the Employment Standards Act. We will pursue the grievance and under Section 49 of the Labour Relations Act, which is the fastest method of resolving the dispute,” said Dalton, who said it could take from three weeks to six weeks to get a “legal ruling.”
This is the third time since the pandemic hit that the union has had to fight for an extension of benefits.
He said moving to CEWS would be a big help to laid-off employees.
“Almost all full-time employees would benefit to varying degrees from the subsidy,” said Dalton, noting some would be eligible to receive the maximum of $847 per week.
“Dealers, cashiers, environmental services, facilities, and culinary (employees) would generally receive the greatest benefit,” said Dalton.
It’s part of a bigger problem, he said.
“This continues to show that Gateway lacks all ability to deploy a viable, long-term plan for the success of Casino Rama,” said Dalton, who noted other casino operators have, for the most part, extended benefits for their employees.
“While they continue to make cuts and destroy morale, their competitors aggressively expand and offer improved services to guests,” said Dalton, referencing Great Canadian Gaming’s operations at Woodbine, Ajax, Port Perry, Peterborough, Brantford, Flamboro, Belleville, and Mohawk.
He said Caesars Windsor has committed to provide benefits to employees for the duration of the shutdown.
“Gateway is the only major operator in Ontario refusing to extend benefits for their employees,” said Dalton.
“Gateway is either unwilling or unable to recognize that ongoing, continuous cutbacks to Casino Rama employees and cutbacks to the guest-experience are only exacerbating their drastic decline in business,” he said.
“They are trying to treat a major resort casino like some budget-friendly, local gambling hall.”
Employees are feeling increasingly frustrated, too.
Two employees spoke to OrilliaMatters about the “toxic” environment at Casino Rama. They spoke on the condition of anonymity as they fear for their job.
“Gateway does not value its employees in the least,” a dealer told OrilliaMatters. “We’ve been treated like the enemy since the day they took over and this recent proposal is proof of that.”
The dealer said the company has left staff “in the dark the day since they took over and never told us what they had planned and then on the first day they were legally allowed they started the layoffs. But leading up to that, they lied and told us in a town hall that they had no plans for layoffs and we have nothing to be concerned about.”
Another long-term employee said staff “are appalled that during a time like this, when money is tight and everything is on hold, a multi-million-dollar company chooses to be so petty.”
Dalton said Gateway “has repeatedly made poor business decisions that has turned this casino, once the best and most respected casino in Ontario, into an afterthought for Ontario gamblers.”
The union leader said “Gateway’s expansion into Ontario has been an unmitigated disaster. Local 1090 strongly believes that Casino Rama workers and guests would be much better with a different operator.”
