Crown Casino Perth managed to maintain its operations as usual, despite the efforts of workers to disrupt the gambling venue’s normal track of services at the time of Melbourne Cup day. There were some queues for the TAB inside the Crown Perth’s entrance hall, but business was as usual in the casino.
As Casino Guardian reported last week, the casino employees were expected to participate in scheduled strike action which was aimed at blocking the access of casino patrons to the gambling venue’s main entrance. The casino’s gambling tables, dining areas, bars and hotel were set to be considerably understaffed as part of strike actions of workers who have been demanding a 3% pay rise from the operator.
The planned strike action, however, did not take place just as expected and initially announced. No more than 100 casino workers came out to protest for an hour and once again require better working conditions and higher payments, while hardly any disruption was brought to the rest of the business inside the gaming floors and the remaining part of Crown Perth complex.
The workers’ strike was planned to last four hours but it was not expected to have a severe impact on the regular operations of the casino, as only part of the complex’ workforce was due to take part in the action. For the time being, about 6,000 people are employed at Crown Perth.
Crown Perth Complex Does Not Face Serious Financial Blow from Organised Workers Strike as Expected
The workers union that represents employees at Crown Casino Perth, United Voice, had previously shared hopes that the organised strike action could cause a significant blow on the financial performance of the complex during the Melbourne Cup that has been one of the most profitable events for the operator.
At the time when the intended strike action was announced, Carolyn Smith, a secretary for United Voice WA, has described the spring carnival as one of the busiest times of the year for Crown Perth. She further noted that the complex normally services about 300,000 casino patrons on a daily basis during the events. Ms Smith has hoped that Crown Perth’s losses generated as a result of strike action would significantly outweigh the required pay rise from the workers and the union.
Last week, a spokesperson for Crown Perth confirmed that the casino has been actively negotiating with the union for a new enterprise deal.
People, who protest against horse racing, were also expected to prevent patrons from entering Ascot Racecourse at the time of the Melbourne Cup. There was, in fact, a group of approximately 80 protesters at the time when the event’s visitors started entering the racecourse.
One of the most meaningful protests that took place at the time of the Melbourne Cup was the one held by The Rosemount pub in North Perth, which had made a decision not to display the race following a consultation on social media. The bar used its Facebook page to share that some concerning reports for poor treatment of horses in the local horse racing industry over the past few decades.
- Author
Olivia Cole
