Casinos and Racetracks

OPSEU Local 278

Casino security officers issue strong strike mandate

April 17, 2009

Security officers at two casinos in Niagara Falls have given their bargaining team a strong strike mandate in negotiations with management.

Members of Local 278 representing security officers at Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara voted 87 per cent yesterday in support of a strike, if negotiations with the employer break down.

The key issue is wages. Management is looking to put a one-year freeze on any wage increase to match what non-unionized workers at the casinos received in 2008. The security officers are looking at two per cent annual increases over a three-year contract.

“We’re not greedy people. We are looking for cost-of-living increases,” said Local 278 president Tony Aston.

OPSEU represents about 300 security officers at the two casinos in Niagara Falls.  

More information:

Tony Aston, President OPSEU Local 278, 905-341-3106 cell

Pati Habermann, OPSEU Staff Representative, 905-328-7134 cell

Pat Honsberger, OPSEU Staff Representative, 905-975-9243 cell