BACK ON PICKET LINE
Caesars Windsor’s staff reject second tentative contract that included $1,600 bonus for full-time staff and $2.25 wage hike over four years
Unifor Local 444 member jeff stiles returns to the picket line in front of caesars windsor on friday after casino workers voted to reject a second tentative agreement as the strike entered its 43rd day.
Seconds after the ballots were counted, the grim faces of Unifor Local 444 president Dave Cassidy and his bargaining team reflected everything you needed to know. The strike at Windsor’s casino will continue.
For the second time in six weeks, Caesars Windsor’s 2,300 employees on Friday rejected a tentative contract agreement — this time with a 53 per cent majority — pushing the workers back on to the picket line with no end in sight to a strike that has already lasted 43 days.
“So, we are still on strike,” said Cassidy, visibly distraught. “This bargaining team worked their ass off to get this deal, but obviously the membership was not happy. “We respect that part, but when I was up onstage, I made it clear to everybody we squeezed the washcloth and there is not one more drop to get here. I was not BS-ing anybody.
“We threw everything we had to this group, put our heart and soul into this, but didn’t get this to the finish line.”
Cassidy said it was too soon to comment on further bargaining with the casino’s management. Kevin Laforet, regional president of Caesars Entertainment, described the company’s reaction to Friday’s vote as “incredibly disappointed.” He noted that Unifor’s national and local bargaining teams had fully recommended the latest deal.
“This is unfortunate,” Laforet said in a statement. “The agreement is more than fair and sustainable.” Laforet added his personal apologies to Caesars Windsor customers for the continued inconvenience. He said the long-term effect of the strike is immeasurable and has gone “well beyond revenue loss.”
Erlinda Roque, a dealer at the casino, was among the few employees who stuck around long enough at the WFCU Centre to hear the outcome of the vote. She burst into tears when the results were announced.
“I have been at the casino 24 years and six days,” she said. “People need to realize you can’t have your cake and eat it too. There is no perfect thing in life. “This contract was the best I’ve seen in 24 years. I don’t know what more people want. I am very angry and that’s why I’m crying. I want to go back to work and have my regular life back, not this. What more do people want?” Compared to the initial tentative deal that was rejected on April 6, the latest deal increased signing bonuses for full-time workers by $450 to $1,600 and $300 for parttime workers to $1,200. There was no change to the proposed wage increases in the first deal, which featured an additional 75 cents per hour in the first year for every employee, then 50 cents for each of the following two years. A fourth year with another 50cent hourly increase was included in the latest agreement — for a total raise of $2.25 per hour overall over four years.
According to a couple dozen workers who would comment after voting, there was no consensus on why union members rejected the latest proposal. For many, it was the additional fourth year on the contract they did not want. Some complained the wage increases were too low, while others complained of poor working conditions, job security or pension concerns.
Most often, workers cited issues of “respect” and “fairness.” Caesars is one of the city’s largest employers and is a major attraction for visitors. Last year, the city received more than $10 million for hosting the casino — money that pays for part of the police budget and in past years paid for bike trails and library enhancements. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said the strike will have a widespread negative impact on the city. “Most importantly this hurts 2,300 families who have to continue to go without a paycheque and will continue to feel pain,” he said.
“But this whole thing is bad — for the workers, for local businesses across the city, for visitors, the casino, union and for the city.” The mayor offered to help both sides resolve the strike if they think there’s a role for him to play. “I am more than happy to do whatever I can to help these people get back to work,” Dilkens said. A spokesman for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., which oversees the casino operations, said it has been monitoring the labour situation.
“Our hope is that negotiations will resume and the sides can come to a positive resolution as soon as possible,” said Tony Bitonti. Since the casino’s workers are not directly OLG employees, inquiries about next steps should be directed to casino management, he said.
Minister of Finance Charles Sousa oversees OLG operations, including the casino in Windsor. His office did not return a message Friday from The Star.
Less than an hour after the deal was rejected, about 100 employees were back on the picket line, circling the casino.
“I’m happy we are out here and making a point,” said Amleto Semprini, a hotel doorman who has worked at the casino for 20 years. “I’m not worried to be out. Hopefully, it will result in a better future for all of us.”
He said the reasons workers rejected the tentative deal was as varied as their jobs and ages. “For younger, it’s mostly about wages,” Semprini said. “For me, it’s more about a secure retirement. Now we wait and hopefully they go back soon to the table.” Some members were quick to cast their ballot and left within minutes after the ratification meeting started around 10 a.m. Many reflected an upbeat mood of being anxious to get back to work. But for those who stayed longer, the mood increasingly changed at the exits to frustration and disappointment.
“I didn’t like the deal at all,” said Carey Trembley, who works in shipping and receiving and has 24 years’ experience. “It’s the same deal only with an added year. It should have been three years with a bit bigger wage increase. I am highly disappointed.
“To me, you have a very unhappy workforce. They should have never brought this to us for a vote.”