Employees of Shorelines Casino Belleville, members of Unifor local 1090 have ratified the agreement reached Tuesday with Great Canadian Gaming.
Local president Corey Dalton tells Quinte News union members voted 92 per cent in favour of the deal that lifts average wages by 13% over the life of the three-year term, and some classifications by as much as 24%.
The contract reduces the cost of extended health benefits by 50% and increases the number of Shorelines Casino Belleville workers who will have access to the health plan by lowering the threshold from 28 hours worked per week to 24.
Dalton says this is their first collective agreement since the 93 workers unionized in March 2020.
“The general feeling from the membership was one of excitement. You know, this has been a long process for them. They spent two years trying to organize the workplace and then when they finally organized the workplace and voted to join they got hit by COVID. It’s been 19 months since they voted to join the union. So, you know this is a three, four year journey in the making. We finally get to officially be union workers now. So they’re happy.”
Jerry Dias, Unifor National President says Shorelines Casino Belleville workers showed great solidarity and determination to win their first collective agreement.
Vice President of Great Canadian Gaming Chuck Keeling says the approval rating shows the offer is fair and reasonable.
“Recognizing that facilities such as ours in Ontario have now moved to the ability to go to a hundred per cent capacity made it even more gratifying that we’ve been able to put this chapter to bed and move on. And rebuild the business from the impacts of the pandemic the last 18 months.”
The strike lasted five days.
Employees are returning to work Thursday though the casino operating hours will be reduced.
Regular hours resume Friday.
