Problems of Crown Casino Melbourne are getting more serious since card dealers and bartenders of the casino are set to walk off their jobs for two hours this Friday night. As announced by the union which takes care of the casino employees’ interests, this would be the first one in a series of industrial actions which it has already warned to be planning throughout the Spring Racing season.
Earlier today, United Voice said that its members who are currently employed by Crown Casino Melbourne, including card dealers, security guards, hotel workers, and bar and restaurant staff, had voted with an overwhelming majority in favour of taking actions at a time when the negotiations over a new deal over better working conditions and higher wages have been unsuccessful.
As reported by the union representing Crown Casino Melbourne staff members, casino workers are set to walk off their jobs for two hours this Friday night. This would be the first effective strike action at the casino and hotel complex for more than a decade and a half. As a result of the strike action, gaming rooms would be left without dealers, and bars and restaurants would be left unattended.
United Voice has also revealed that workers at Crown Casino Melbourne would decide on Friday night on whether or not to continue their strike on the next day. No more details on possible subsequent action were specified by the union.
Friday’s Strike Action Only One of the Recent Setbacks Faced by Crown Resorts
As revealed by United Voice, about half of the front-line employees at Crown were its members and would participate in the organised strike action.
This would be the first strike action of the Crown Casino Melbourne workers. The union’s negotiations with the gambling giant for a new enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) have been held for half a year now, and Crown is still expected to make “a substantive offer” for new wages. As explained by United Voice, its major concern was to make sure the new EBA would guarantee stable and secure jobs to workers in Crown Casino Melbourne. According to data provided by the union, 70% of the Crown’s workforce were engaged in casual or part-time jobs.
As far as the new enterprise bargaining agreement is concerned, the company has revealed it was working in collaboration with the workers’ union to forge a new EBA and provide the best working conditions to its staff members. A spokesperson for Crown Resorts shared that 83% of the company’s workforce were working on permanent full-time or permanent part-time jobs to date.
The effective strike action is most likely to be a severe blow to Crown Resorts, as the gambling company has been facing serious setbacks, considering the investigations which are being faced by the company in Australia. Also today, public hearings, which were held by the federal law enforcement watchdog into alleged corrupt conduct involving not only the gambling operator but also the Department of Home Affairs, were put off after the availability of one of the key witnesses came into doubt.
- Author
Olivia Cole
