Strike ends at Caesars Windsor
Workers Agree to three-year deal, casino to reopen on thursday
It took 60 days of striking and three attempts at a deal, but the longest labour dispute in Caesars Windsor history is finally over. Represented by Unifor Local 444, almost 2,000 employees of the casino resort ratified their latest agreement on Monday. The vote was 75 per cent in favour. “It was tough,” said a relieved Dave Cassidy, president of Local 444. “This was probably the toughest set of bargaining I’ve been in.
“This is a landmark in the city of Windsor. Could anybody imagine what we would be like without Caesars Windsor, or a casino in Windsor?”
Shortly after the ratification, Caesars Windsor management issued a statement expressing happiness at the resolution and announcing that the property would be ready for customers on Thursday at 11 a.m. “Amenities including all restaurants and the box office will resume their regular business hours upon reopening,” the company said.
Casino management did not respond to a request for further comment. Additionally, Caesars Windsor announced new show dates for five more concerts that had been postponed due to the strike — including multi-platinum rapper Pitbull. The workers have been on strike since April 6. Past tentative agreements have been voted down by majorities of 59 per cent and 53 per cent.
The agreement that succeeded on Monday is a three-year deal, rather than a four-year deal like the one that was rejected last time. “We missed the mark (last time),” Cassidy said. “Once we announced that it was a four-year deal at the last one, we lost the crowd.” In monetary terms, the new deal is not greatly different from past offers. There is a cumulative general wage increase of $1.75 after three years — the same as the last deal contained at the three-year mark.
The schedule of the hourly wage increases has changed slightly: $0.75 in the first year, $0.75 in the second year, and $0.25 in the third year.
Signing bonuses remain unchanged: $1,600 for full-time employees, $1,200 for part-time employees, and $675 for casual employees.
There have been improvements in job security. According to Local 444, Caesars Windsor has assured that there are no plans to close any existing food service outlet and no department will be eliminated or outsourced for the duration of the agreement (April 4 to April 3, 2021).
“We were able to maintain everything we had,” Cassidy said. “We made some slight changes to the long-term disability plan, but not to negatively affect any member.
“We moved things around, and we got some tighter language on things that we needed.”
The vote took place at the Ciociaro Club at 10 a.m.
Local 444 arranged buses to shuttle members from the union hall on Turner Road to the meeting place. Arrangements were also made so that members with picket duty would have the opportunity to vote.
Ballots were cast quickly and the count was done by noon. Unlike the mood at the failed ratification vote on May 18, the atmosphere was light on Monday. Many members left the meeting smiling and embracing each other. “I want to go back,” said Caesars Windsor employee Mike Quaglia. “I think it’s time to go back.” Another employee, dealer Erlinda Roque, whooped in celebration when she heard Cassidy announce the ratification. “We should have done this last time,” Roque said. “We should have said ‘Yes’ last time.” Tourism officials and business owners outside the casino were also smiling Monday after learning the strike was over. Gordon Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, called it a “fantastic day” for the entire region. “We’re very fortunate to have a signature attraction like Caesars Windsor in our own backyard, and the fact that it was closed was not a win for anybody,” he said. “So now that it’s opening again, it’s able to continue to be that tourism trip motivator that will get people to cross an international border, drive down the 401 or fly into Windsor Airport to come and see this first class gaming facility.” Orr said selling the Windsor region without its “No. 1 tourist attraction” presented some problems during the two-month strike. “We continued to market our tourism assets in the region,” he said. “Of course, it was noticeable to those that had booked meetings, conventions, those who had show tickets. Obviously the longer it went on, the more negative a reaction would come of that. This end to the strike means that messaging will stop.”
Orr has said the dispute also created a negative “spinoff impact” for restaurants, malls, wineries and other establishments that were losing business from both tourists and striking casino employees. Walter Bezzina, general manager of Vets Cab, said taxi drivers were among those feeling the pain. “It’s good for the city, it’s good for our drivers for sure, it’s good for everybody,” said Bezzina. “Nobody ever wins in these kinds of deals, so it’s just good that they’re back. Hopefully we can look forward to the next three years as being good.” The terms of the agreement were reached after about eight hours of bargaining on Saturday. Caesars Windsor representatives and Local 444’s bargaining committee resumed negotiations following “exploratory discussions” last week with the assistance of a provincial mediator. The discussions were attended by Kevin Laforet, regional president of Caesars Entertainment, and Jerry Dias, Unifor’s national president.
Cassidy said the mediator’s help and the presence of Laforet and Dias all played a part in making a resolution possible.
“I can tell you, the casino wasn’t calling me (after the second rejection),” Cassidy said. “They didn’t want to get back to the table.” Now begins the process of putting the membership back to work and getting Caesars Windsor running again.
Cassidy said he’s confident customers will return to the region’s No. 1 tourist attraction.
“The customers know that Caesars Windsor is the way it is because of our membership. They ’re first class,” he said. “Caesars Windsor is the brand, but our membership is the face. They give the best service. They ’re the best in the business.” Asked if he has any concerns there will be hard feelings in the workplace after such a protracted dispute, Cassidy replied: “No. I can
tell you, the majority of the membership have great relationships with their frontline supervisors.” “I don’t see any animosity there whatsoever.”