Among the highlights of the four-year agreement, which expires on March 31, 2023, Unifor Local 1403 members working at Canadian Kraft Paper also voted to ratify a new three-year agreement that includes enhanced paramedical benefits and funeral leave. Unifor members, who work at three Ontario casinos, voted to ratify new three-year contracts that include improvements to their retirement plans. With 18 gaming units in Ontario, many of which had previously entered into concession agreements, Woodbine members remained with a bargaining trend that was not in their favour. But with determination and a strong mobilization strategy, the members ensured an uncompromising agreement with significant achievements that are contrary to the trend of the gaming industry. The victories include drastic pay increases, improvements to their retirement plans and initiatives to combat precarious work at the casino. “I am so proud of our members who came together to put pressure on this employer and reach a fantastic agreement that raises the bar for the entire gaming industry,” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC Ontario`s Regional Executive Vice President. “We have achieved great success, including the management of precarious work, by adding a clause in this agreement to have at least 50% of the positions in the full-time bargaining unit!” Unifor members from Local 1090 at Casino Ajax and Great Blue Heron Casino and Local 504 at Elements Casino Brantford voted in favour of an interim agreement that includes a 1% increase in the employer membership fee, which must be supplemented by a mandatory contribution from one percent of employees. Members of the Public Utilities Alliance of Canada (PSAC) working at Woodbine Casino in Toronto have ratified a new collective agreement that includes historic gains for their members and sets a strong precedent for the gaming industry as a whole. Members ratified their contract with the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (GCGC) on August 15, 2019. This was the first round of negotiations with the new private sector employer after the Ontario government transferred the gaming facility to GCGC last year. PSAC members, chartered directly to the site, took a position early on and gave their bargaining team a strong strike mandate prior to negotiations to pressure the employer to come to the table. “Our union has shown that we are the leaders in the gaming industry and we will further raise standards for all workers in this province,” added DeSousa.
“Thanks to the hard work of Unifor`s members, the CKP-Mhle is a success and a crucial importance for the economy of this region,” said Jerry Dias, President of Unifor, in a press release.