225 Gateway Casino workers join BCGEU to improve wages, working conditions

Union says it will step up efforts to organize casino workers across the province

More than 200 dealers and slot machine attendants at the Gateway Casino in Burnaby have voted to join the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union to improve wages and working conditions at the flagship gaming facility of B.C.'s largest casino chain.

Earlier in July, some 70 casino supervisors also unionized with BCGEU to help make their workplace better.

Union president Darryl Walker welcomed the new members and paid tribute on their strength and dedication after a two-year struggle to join.

"There was an aggressive campaign by casino management to prevent employees from being able to choose to join a union," says Walker. "In spite of this, our organizing drive succeeded because of the perseverance of dealers and slot attendants who worked extremely hard to make it successful."

Walker says now that the wishes of Gateway employees are known, he's hopeful that the union and the company can build a more positive relationship.

"Our goal is to try and work cooperatively to improve pay and conditions to make the casino a better workplace for staff," says Walker.

The next step for the new union members is to elect a bargaining committee and gather proposals for a first contract. He expects that bargaining with the casino will begin as soon as possible.

Walker says BCGEU will reach out to 200 more Gateway employees who haven't yet voted on unionizing. And the union will step up efforts to help staff at other B.C. casinos improve their pay and working conditions. In addition to the 300 new Gateway members, BCGEU also represents another 400 staff at four Gateway-owned casinos in the Interior.

B.C.'s casinos generate more than $1.3 billion in annual revenue and huge profits that are carved up by casino owners and Victoria. While the stakes are lucrative for some, casino workers are poorly paid and work long hours under stressful conditions. Wages at Gateway start at $8.75 per hour and top out for the most experienced supervisor at just over $16 per hour.

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