Members of United Steelworkers union (USW) Local 2009 have ratified a renewed collective agreement with Playtime Gaming at the Chances Casino in Abbotsford, B.C. The ratification follows two days on the picket line after the employer locked out the workers.
“The bargaining committee worked hard to thwart the employer’s concessionary wage and benefit proposals,” said Al Bieksa, President of USW Local 2009. “After two days on the picket line and massive support from the membership, the bargaining committee settled on a renewed collective agreement that sees average wage increases of 8% over the next three years of the contract.”
On June 14, 2021, Playtime Gaming issued a lockout notice to its employees after the members would not agree to an inferior collective agreement that slashed benefits and offered mostly minimum wages.
“The employer received substantial assistance from the federal government under the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF), which was aimed at providing loans to companies with revenues of $300 million or more. On the other hand, our members were financially challenged for the past 16 months,” said Ginette Talbot-Hoogeveen, USW Staff Representative.
“I am very proud that our members did not concede to the employer’s bullying tactics and stood together when they were locked out,” Talbot-Hoogeveen said.
Casinos in British Columbia are scheduled to re-open during the first week of July after the easing of provincial health orders.
The USW congratulates the members on ratifying a renewed collective agreement.
Al Bieksa, USW Local 2009 President, 604-842-2900, abieksa@usw2009.ca
Ginette Talbot-Hoogeveen, USW Staff Representative, 604-220-4811, ghoogeveen@usw.ca
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