OTTAWA –
Contract talks have broken off between unionized security staff at
Rideau Carleton Raceway Slots and the employer. The 38 security staff,
who have given their union a 100 per cent strike mandate, could be on
strike as early as 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 7.
At issue
are benefits, as well as parking charges if there is a move to a new
facility. Greg McVeigh, staff negotiator for the Ontario Public Service
Employees Union, said the position the employer has taken is both
ridiculous, and mean-spirited.
“We have
already offered to take a wage freeze, which means employee wages will
be frozen for a total five years,” McVeigh said. “All the staff here
want is to have their benefits, which are below security staff at all
other OLG gaming facilities, on par with other security staff. The total
cost for all 38 staff is only $4,000, yet the employer refuses to move
on this issue.”
The
largest issue for the members is parking. Currently, there is no fee to
park at Rideau Carleton. However, if a new owner takes over operations
and moves the facility downtown, parking could cost as much as $20 per
day, a cost the employer wants employees to pay as well.
“Security
staff earn less than $20 per hour,” McVeigh said. “These parking charges
would reduce their income by 12.5 per cent, which is a massive hit. This
is not a cost item for the employer…it’s additional revenue, and they
want to claw it out of their own employees. They should be ashamed of
that.”
OPSEU
President Warren (Smokey) Thomas believes that the gaming operation,
which earns $142 million per year in revenue, is trying to make itself
as attractive as possible for the new buyer, possibly Caesar’s
Entertainment Inc. “Rideau Carleton cares more about the sale of the
business than the welfare of their employees, and their actions at the
bargaining table prove that,” Thomas said. “These employees keep
everyone at this gaming operation safe and secure. To treat them this
way is, in our opinion, completely pathetic.”
Talks are
set to resume on Feb. 6 with the assistance of a provincial mediator.
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