For the second Saturday in a row, mini-vans
rolled from the OPSEU Local 565 strike headquarters, bound for Ontario casinos. And the
second edition of the Saturday Night Special could truly be called "new and
improved".
Two vans full of OPSEU activists, along with Local 565 President
John Worton, travelled from Toronto to link up with our Windsor contingent, and students
from an OPSEU educational. All told, about 100 people descended on Casino Windsor in a
larger scale repeat of last weekend’s fun.
Once again, traffic was backed up for several blocks as gamblers
waited to access the public parking garage where leaflets were handed out to raise the
public profile of our strike.
However, traffic to the casino was down considerably. Reduced casino
patronage means our message to the public is starting to sink in. People are becoming
aware that the casinos are not being properly regulated for gambling or liquor laws.
It also means that Government revenues from the casinos are falling,
and pressure on the AGCO to get back to the bargaining table is mounting.
Two more vans left Toronto for Casino Rama, where about 25 to 30
strikers and OPSEU activists also delayed traffic at the main entrance to the casino by
handing out leaflets and discussing the strike with the public.
And public reaction was mainly favourable. Most people were
interested to know more about our strike and many expressed concern about the lack of
proper regulation.
One motorist blocked access to the casino for three traffic light
changes while discussing the issues with bargaining team member Mary Cox, and several
people turned their cars around and came back out of the casino once they had been
informed about the strike.
We even got top billing on the NewVR’s six o’clock news!
AGCO negotiator Steven Shammie, who also represents Casino Rama, was
observing the action with casino vice president Jacquie Castel. Neither looked amused.
All told, about four times more people participated in the Saturday
Night Special rallies this week than did last week. You can bet that the employer noticed.
Speaking of pressure on the employer and Steven Shamie, the Saturday
Night Special rallies must be having an effect, because OPSEU’s lawyers received a
rather nervous sounding letter from Mr. Shamie on Friday afternoon.
Mr. Shamie’s letter indicated that he had heard we would be
picketing casinos in larger numbers over the weekend, and that his firm would be seeking
injunctions if we did anything illegal to disrupt casino operations. Sounds like
they’re scared.
Rest assured that we were on our best behaviour. At both casinos we
were under constant police supervision, and in both cases were informed that they had no
problems with us. In Rama, we even obeyed the traffic signals while picketing the
driveway.
We’re less sure about Mr. Shammie’s behaviour though.
Because his firm represents the AGCO in negotiations, and all three casinos on labour
relations matters, we think they are in a conflict of interest. Mr. Shammie has indicated
that he represents Casino Rama personally. A complaint to the Law Society is being
considered.
Monday is the only day on this week’s calendar without some
form of special event planned.
On Tuesday morning, members of the Ontario Public Service Staff
Union (those nice OPSEU staffers) will be providing Toronto pickets with a special
breakfast in the park at Bay and Dundas before the lines go up. On Wednesday, we will
likely be picketing the black-tie gala opening of the Brantford Charity Casino, Thursday
we are scheduled to pay a visit to Consumer and Commercial Relations Minister Bob
Runciman’s office, Friday is our rain date for the Brantford trip, and our next
Saturday Night Special is scheduled for Casino Niagara.
The momentum is starting to build. The more people participate in
these kinds of actions, the more pressure we put on the employer. Keep standing up and
fighting for your rights. And have some fun doing it too!!
