Casino Strike

[cv23]

The four casinos in the valley made a net profit of $80 million last year. They can afford to pay is better than minimum wage.

So why doesn't your union open a casino, pay you what ever you want and cash in on this supposed cash cow? They would have all the experienced staff and the union must be easily able to afford it if they can pay all its members to do nothing as they currently are.
Seems like a win win proposition.

[cv23]

You're suggesting I uproot my family and leave Canada because I'm not satisfied making minimum wage?

If you don't like your current situation only you can do something to better it but walking the pavement with a placard for way less than minimum wage isn't a good direction to choose IMO.

[OKkayak]

This argument is invalid as 1) that would be illegal and 2) the casinos that are paying the higher wages are the same company I work for.

You missed the point.

Industry standards is one factor that is looked into as well as cost of living when offering employees a wage.

[just popping in]

Gamechan, thank you for your input from one who actually works there.

[JayByrd]

If you don't like your current situation only you can do something to better it but walking the pavement with a placard for way less than minimum wage isn't a good direction to choose IMO.

"Why don't you move to another city?"

"Why don't you open your own casino?"

If people exercising their legal right to strike bothers you so much, why don't *YOU* move away? There are plenty of places where casino staff aren't even unionized, let alone taking job action.

You asked why the unionized staff don't relocate, that's been answered. And I don't think you're really surprised that BCGEU hasn't opened a casino.

The staff are doing something to better their situation. They're negotiating a contract they feel is fair, and not settling for one that isn't. Those negotiations are ongoing. It might not be what you'd choose to do, but you don't have a dog in this fight, do you? You speak with authority about how they won't gain anything from job action, yet you don't seem to understand what they're doing or why. Eventually this will be settled. Once the contract has been ratified, I'm sure a union member will share the details with you if you ask, and you can see for yourself how much they gained or didn't gain.

[XT225]

The casino hours have been drastically cut. They aren't even open Mondays and Tuesdays. All four sites on strike are open Wednesday-Sunday from noon (usually 10) to 9pm or 2pm depending on site. Except for Kelowna, no table games are being offered at any of these sites. In Kelowna only 4 tables are opened and not until 6pm. Poker is closed. All four restaurants are closed. They are taking a hit. There's no denying that. I am making target pay on strike so we'll see who blinks first.

Its my opinion that if the public would quit crossing the picket lines and patronizing the Casinos while the strike is on, Gateways might just hurt enough to get down to business and negotiate a fair contract for all concerned.

ps: gamechan, do you think that would help the cause? (if people stopped going, for now).

[gamechan]

The casino hours have been drastically cut. They aren't even open Mondays and Tuesdays. All four sites on strike are open Wednesday-Sunday from noon (usually 10) to 9pm or 2pm depending on site. Except for Kelowna, no table games are being offered at any of these sites. In Kelowna only 4 tables are opened and not until 6pm. Poker is closed. All four restaurants are closed. They are taking a hit. There's no denying that. I am making target pay on strike so we'll see who blinks first.

Its my opinion that if the public would quit crossing the picket lines and patronizing the Casinos while the strike is on, Gateways might just hurt enough to get down to business and negotiate a fair contract for all concerned.

ps: gamechan, do you think that would help the cause? (if people stopped going, for now).

It certainly wouldn't hurt

[cv23]

It might not be what you'd choose to do, but you don't have a dog in this fight, do you? You speak with authority about how they won't gain anything from job action, yet you don't seem to understand what they're doing or why. Eventually this will be settled. Once the contract has been ratified, I'm sure a union member will share the details with you if you ask, and you can see for yourself how much they gained or didn't gain.

Do company shareholders not have a "dog in this fight"? I would bet (bad humor) that there are more shareholders than workers.

I have been involved in one way or another in couple other labour disputes in my lifetime which disruptions had taken place. Sadly for the strikers even though their union told them they won a great victory while in reality only those who spent the next ten years with the company would see any benefit from that increase. The vast majority lost money because the large amount of money they did not receive while walking the picket line was never realized back from small increase in wages/benefits they got. Their union also placed special levies and increased dues on them in order to refill the unions coffers after paying their reserves out in strike pay. All the while the workers were squeaking by on strike pay the union staff were paid their full wages, such brotherhood.
Going on strike to protect your job, for a significant contract item or a large increase maybe, but to do it for a buck or two will only wind up costing the workers in the long run. Is a minimum wage, or close to, job really worth losing money over? Go find a job with a future while you can.

[cv23]

Its my opinion that if the public would quit crossing the picket lines and patronizing the Casinos while the strike is on, Gateways might just hurt enough to get down to business and negotiate a fair contract for all concerned.

ps: gamechan, do you think that would help the cause? (if people stopped going, for now).

I'm sure those who support the works are not presently patronizing the casino. The fact the casino is still open and doing a brisk business shows just how little public support the strikers actually have.

[Jflem1983]

Its my opinion that if the public would quit crossing the picket lines and patronizing the Casinos while the strike is on, Gateways might just hurt enough to get down to business and negotiate a fair contract for all concerned.

ps: gamechan, do you think that would help the cause? (if people stopped going, for now).

I'm sure those who support the works are not presently patronizing the casino. The fact the casino is still open and doing a brisk business shows just how little public support the strikers actually have.

Yup. Barely ever gamble. Might go throw a hundred on the slots just to spite these over paid unionized walk offs . My little sister is a unionized employee been at her job a few years. 3 or more. She makes 10 cents above minimum wage. Ive never been in a union. My mother did well as a nurse. She has skills though. These unions for 7_11 employee nonsense is just that. Nonsense. What does a casino employee do that makes them so special. Every one could be replaced by a machine tomorrow. No one would care. Sorry but it is the same story up and down all retail. These jobs are history.

[JayByrd]

Yup. Barely ever gamble. Might go throw a hundred on the slots just to spite these over paid unionized walk offs . My little sister is a unionized employee been at her job a few years. 3 or more. She makes 10 cents above minimum wage. Ive never been in a union. My mother did well as a nurse. She has skills though. These unions for 7_11 employee nonsense is just that. Nonsense. What does a casino employee do that makes them so special. Every one could be replaced by a machine tomorrow. No one would care. Sorry but it is the same story up and down all retail. These jobs are history.

People don't certify with unions because they're special, it's usually because the staff perceive they are being treated unfairly. Go work for a company like Argo South Okanagan and you'll understand why their staff are unionized.

And I assume you'd give that hundred to your sister, if only she deserved it.

[JayByrd]

I'm sure those who support the workers are not presently patronizing the casino. The fact the casino is still open and doing a brisk business shows just how little public support the strikers actually have.

On one hand, you seem to want what's best for the workers, wishing they knew better than to strike because they're only hurting themselves.

Then you're on the side of the shareholders (are you one?) who are suffering from the downturn in business. But you also point out that business remains brisk. How brisk is it? Are revenues down or not? You're getting more and more abstract in an effort to make your point. But you've already made it!

Maybe the shareholders want management to get off their *bleep* and get a contract done so we can all go back to making money. You said yourself, there's only a buck or two at stake here.

[JayByrd]

Yup. Barely ever gamble. Might go throw a hundred on the slots just to spite these over paid unionized walk offs . My little sister is a unionized employee been at her job a few years. 3 or more. She makes 10 cents above minimum wage. Ive never been in a union. My mother did well as a nurse. She has skills though. These unions for 7_11 employee nonsense is just that. Nonsense. What does a casino employee do that makes them so special. Every one could be replaced by a machine tomorrow. No one would care. Sorry but it is the same story up and down all retail. These jobs are history.

People don't certify with unions because they're special, it's usually because the staff perceive they are being treated unfairly. Go work for a company like Argo South Okanagan and you'll understand why their staff are unionized.

And I assume you'd give that hundred to your sister, if only she deserved it.

[Jflem1983]

3 weeks in. The union needs to win about 5 dollars a man hour at this point or its all gone to pot. How could anyone come out ahead. Walked away from 3 weeks of good tips. Plus whatever wages. Insane

[cv23]

On one hand, you seem to want what's best for the workers, wishing they knew better than to strike because they're only hurting themselves.

Then you're on the side of the shareholders (are you one?) who are suffering from the downturn in business. But you also point out that business remains brisk. How brisk is it? Are revenues down or not? You're getting more and more abstract in an effort to make your point. But you've already made it!

Maybe the shareholders want management to get off their *bleep* and get a contract done so we can all go back to making money. You said yourself, there's only a buck or two at stake here.

I have been on all sides of the unrepresented labor/organized labor/management/owner game so can, and have, seen all sides of the story.
Except for staff of the union there are no winners in a strike.

For some workers a buck or two means making it or not each month. For others it isn't any big deal. Management usually could care less about the money and usually want the action to end so they aren't having to continue doing duties usually performed by the union staff. When you spread that buck or two an hour over thousands of employees it is the owners/shareholders who realize the full cost associated and dig in their heels rather than increase their operating costs by thousands of dollars an hour with no increase in income to offset this potentially new added expense.