Casinos and Racetracks

OPSEU Local 278

Local 278 ratifies new contract

June 2, 2009

Members of OPSEU Local 278 at Casino Niagara and Niagara Fallsview ratified their new collective agreement on June 1, 2009. The ratification follows an 87 per cent strike vote and a rejected ratification vote on May 14.

Under the terms of the new three-year agreement:

• Wage increase of 40 cents per hour in each year of the agreement

• New language to preserve and create full-time job opportunities

• The employer will post four full-time positions within seven days of ratification

• Part-timers will have the ability to opt in or out of benefits/cents per lieu once during life of agreement

• Security licence reimbursement

• Dual-rate supervisors now excluded from bargaining unit

• New respectful workplace language

• New rest period language

• Improved bereavement leave language

• Improved joint health and safety language

• Employer to pay for certification of committee members

• Addition of Family Day

• New “work of the bargaining unit” language

• New job security language if Casino moves in the future