The employees at Chances Casino in Campbell River have, “sent a strong message to the employer,” Playtime Gaming, by voting 96 per cent in favour of strike action, according to a press release from The United Steelworkers Local 1-1937, the union representing the workers.
The negotiations between the union and Playtime have broken down in their latest round of contract bargaining.
The union says they’ve received no response to their last counter proposal, and “will not bargain with ourselves,” saying that, “it is their turn to show the movement they said would be there prior to our last adjustment.”
“Hopefully the company will get the message that their employees are determined to get a fair collective agreement This just confirms what we have been telling the Employer and that is that the membership is adamant on getting an agreement that reflects the revenues and profits that are being taken out of this business by both the company and the government,” said Rick Wangler in the union’s release.
From the employer’s perspective, the union’s last proposal was unrealistic. In a release from Playtime Gaming before the strike vote was held, which they confirmed, “remains unchanged,” they expressed their disappointment that the union “was intent on seeking a strike vote from our employees in order to advance its position at the bargaining table,” rather than, “providing us with a more realistic proposal upon which the bargaining process could continue.”
Both sides are adamant that they are more than willing to continue the bargaining process.
Watch for updates in the Mirror as they become available.