Casino security officers to hold strike vote

NIAGARA FALLS - Security officers at Casino Niagara will hold a strike vote this weekend as the deadline for the current contract negotiations quickly approaches.

Rob Field, staff negotiator for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, says that there has been some progress in contract talks with Chicago-based Hyatt Corporation, but there are still many outstanding issues that need to be dealt with prior to the February 10, 2003 deadline.

“We will be asking our members for a strong strike mandate in order to get things moving more substantially at the table,” Field said. “A strike vote doesn’t necessarily mean our members will be going on strike. However, if the employer continues to ignore our reasonable demands for improvements, a labour dispute will be inevitable.”

Casting a shadow on talks at the casino is the revelation that Hyatt Corporation is training and licensing scores of security workers from AFI International, a Canadian company that supplies replacement workers to striking worksites. On January 7, Hyatt Corporation publicly refuted allegations by OPSEU that they were hiring replacement workers, stating that the hiring was for the new casino slated to open in April, 2004. Yesterday, Hyatt admitted that they were in fact training replacement workers.

“It is difficult to concentrate on achieving a deal when the other side appears to be pushing towards a labour dispute,” Field said. “Considering the prosperity that the casino brings to this area, you would think that Hyatt would want to ensure there were no disruptions to the operation. We are perceiving a strong message that this American employer will do whatever it takes to ensure that nothing cuts into their profit margin.”

The strike vote will be held on Sunday, February 2 at the Brock Plaza Hotel on Falls Avenue starting at 8:30 a.m.

Security officers at Casino Niagara are seeking improvements to wages and working conditions, as well as protection from Hyatt’s draconian disciplinary practices. Health and safety for staff and patrons at the casino is also one of the union’s largest concerns during this set of contract talks.

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For more information: Rob Field (416) 527-1373