On the eve of the Grand Prix weekend in Montreal, casino workers in Quebec have gone on strike at four casinos and Loto-Québec’s internet gambling portal, Espacejeux. The walkout, organized by the CSN union, involves around 1,700 employees from casinos in Montreal, Gatineau, Mont-Tremblant, and Charlevoix.
The workers’ principal motivation for striking is a demand for greater salaries that correctly reflect the rising cost of living. According to the CSN, Loto-Québec has offered two “generous” offers to the union, but these offers have remained unaltered since February.
The workers and Loto-Québec have been negotiating for a year, and the strikers are now pressing the firm to return to the bargaining table. The CSN criticizes Loto-Québec for refusing to examine salaries despite claiming the company had its “best year ever” in its most recent annual report. Kevin G. Taylor, Loto-Québec’s executive vice-president, saw a huge 34% increase in his yearly income, exacerbating the workers’ fury.
The CSN obtained a five-day strike authorization earlier this month, planning to utilize it “at the right moment.” That moment, according to Riccardo Scopelleti, president of security staff at the Montreal Casino, has arrived.
Loto-Québec responded to the strike by expressing sadness that the CSN chose to strike rather than continue negotiations. The corporation claims that discussions for the collective agreement’s normative and monetary parts completed in December. Loto-Québec contends that the CSN’s requests are worth more than the pay paid to the organization’s other employees in the previous year.
The Mont-Tremblant Casino was momentarily closed due to the strike, however it has now reopened. The gaming halls in Trois-Rivières and Quebec City, on the other hand, are unaffected by the labor issue. Loto-Québec guaranteed the public that the casinos will remain open over the Grand Prix weekend, although with certain service constraints. The online gambling site Espacejeux will remain operational, but its call center services will be momentarily unavailable.
Scopelleti emphasized the pandemic’s negative impact on working conditions, citing three closures and continued worker shortages. Some sections within the casinos are still shuttered, compounding the workers’ difficult predicament.
As the strike progresses, both the casino employees and Loto-Québec are embroiled in a labor dispute that might have long-term consequences for the future of fair compensation in the Quebec casino business.
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