A unicycling panda, music and a flag-bearing recumbent are just some of the things keeping spirits up on the picket lines at the Penticton Gateway Casino.
More than 675 Gateway workers affiliated with the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) set up picket lines June 29 at Cascades Kamloops, Cascades Penticton, Playtime Kelowna and Lake City Vernon casinos after mediation talks broke down.
“The last few days have been very encouraging, a lot of people staying away (from the casino), and that’s helpful. Everybody’s calm and we’re all working together to get the best collective agreement ever,” said Candie Diffin, who has been a shop steward for the past 18 years. “It’s a calm line and we have a lot of fun and we have our managers inside (the casino) that are still part of the group and they are wonderful people and they come out and even given us ice cream bars. It is a happy group here and we’re just fighting for the best contract ever.”
She estimated there are about 170 workers on strike at the Penticton location. The workers’ previous contract expired in September, 2017.
“There’s a lot of them (customers) that are supporting us. They understand our cause that we want a fair living wage and we don’t want to work two jobs any more, so we have a lot of support with that,” said Diffin. “We have some people who they still support us in their own way but they do cross the line. A lot of the tourists stay away and the morale is good. And I’m in touch with all four sites and it’s really good.”
She added her members talk about the issues and give out flyers to explain their cause to those who stop by.
Related: Gateway’s Okanagan casino workers to strike
The strike began 72 hours following the union’s strike notice was given after 88 per cent of it’s membership voted 93.1 per cent in favour of striking in early June.
“Our members are asking for living wages that would bring them in line with the industry standard for casino workers in B.C.,” said Stephanie Smith, BCGEU president in a written statement earlier. “These workers are the heart of their casinos. Gateway is a successful company in a highly profitable industry — they can afford to pay their staff what they are worth.”
According to the union, negotiations broke off in May after the employer refused to offer wages and benefits that are industry standard at comparable casinos.
Both parties met for a few days of mediated talks over the past two weeks but could not reach an agreement on key monetary issues.
Smith stated the employer’s offer is unacceptable.
“The wages Gateway are offering won’t even keep ahead of the planned minimum wage increases,” she said.
In an open letter Tanya Gabara Gateway’s director of public relations said the company remains “committed to having respectful discussions with the union to achieve a mutually agreeable contract that is reasonable and responsible for both our employees and Gateway.
Related: Casino worker money demands called ‘unreasonable’
Cascades Casino Penticton said during the labour disruption they will be open every day from noon to 9 p.m. All slot machines, the Summit Bar and cash cage operations will run normally during the site’s adjusted operating hours.
Table games, Match Eatery and Public House and The Buffet will be closed during the strike. As well, lottery products and payouts greater than $500 will be suspended until further notice.
She said Gateway was “surprised” the union decided to end mediation before there was a discussion on wages.