Casino Rama has made the headline over the past few days, as Gateway Casinos & Entertainment overseeing operation commenced optimization process and handed layoff notices to 65 individuals. This week brought the news that the casino operator has continued, this time walking out employees that are not associated with any of the labor unions. Detached upper management: -makes poor decisions and doubles down on them - is not sensitive to existing service expectations -have cut back on full time positions and hours in general -obeys the Collective Agreement only as far as they are forced to -has a poor working association with the Union that feels combative and antagonistic creating palpable tension among staff -are poor at.
It appears gamblers will be able to continue to roll the dice and take their chances at Casino Rama despite widespread concerns about the global COVID-19 pandemic. At least for now.
Unifor, the union representing most employees at Casino Rama, has asked Gateway Gaming and Entertainment, the operator of the gambling facility, to shut down the casino.
The union is concerned for its front-line employees who could come into contact with someone carrying the pesky virus. Thousands of patrons visit the casino - many in buses from out of town - each day.
Corey Dalton, president of Unifor Local 1090, said he has spoken with union representatives from not only Casino Rama but Gateway Casino Innisfil, Pickering Casino Resort, Casino Ajax, and Great Blue Heron Casino about the issue.
In a statement on Facebook posted late last night, Dalton said union officials from each of those gaming facilities favour a shutdown.
But Gateway, apparently, has no plans to close the doors.
“At this point, none of the sites have any plans whatsoever to temporarily stop operations at these facilities,” Dalton said in a statement.
“The province of Quebec has shuttered all of their casinos in response to the outbreak - this is the reasonable response until we know more about the virus' potential,” said Dalton.
He said the union asked the company about potential enhanced measures to protect workers. “None of the workplaces were able to provide any examples (such as) increased cleaning, social distancing, screening for symptoms, sanitation at tables and/or machines,” said Dalton.
“To say I am disappointed in the response of these employers would be a dramatic understatement,” Dalton posted. “COVID-19 is an international epidemic, to which most of the scientific community still does not remotely understand.
'The only consensus from the medical community is that avoiding contact with groups of other people is the most effective way at staying safe and reducing the virus' spread.”
Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton said his office has fielded calls from Casino Rama employees concerned about the working conditions at the casino.
“They have a right to be (concerned),” Stanton told OrilliaMatters Saturday.
“There is an issue here. It is a regulated space and it behooves the Province of Ontario to ensure (Gateway) is getting serious about this and/or stipulating” new protocols to protect staff and customers.
He suggested Gateway could remove stools at slot machines and remove chairs at gaming tables to adhere to social distance concerns. He said cleaning regimes should be enhanced so that customers cannot access slot machines until they are sanitized.
“They have to change their practices,” said Stanton. “To think they can just carry on, sort of business as usual … is ludicrous.”
In a phone conversation Saturday, Dalton told OrilliaMatters he is no longer able to comment on the issue. He referred comments to Unifor’s national office.
An email to Natalie Clancy, Unifor’s Director of Communications, was not returned in time for this story.
Multiple calls and emails to Rob Mitchell, the spokesperson for Gateway Entertainment, also were not returned.
According to an internal memo obtained by OrilliaMatters late Saturday afternoon, the Couchiching Court Buffet and the Willow Restaurant outlets have been shut down.
'Based on the current precautions being recommended by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the reduction of business associated with required or recommended bans on concerts and events,' Gateway does not support the opening of the eateries.
The Tim Hortons inside the casino has also reportedly closed.
Dalton, in his Facebook post, said the union is “continuing to lobby the employers and the government to take the safety concerns of Local 1090 members seriously; to provide measures so that workers don't have to choose between paying their mortgage, rent, bills - or risking their health.”
He also reminded workers to be vigilant.
“Please remember your rights under the Occupational Health & Safety Act. If any worker feels their safety is in jeopardy, immediately inform your supervisor that you are exercising your right to refuse unsafe work under Section 43 of the Act.
“You have the right to continue to refuse work that you believe is unsafe, without fear of reprisal or discipline, until an Inspector from the Ministry of Labour determines otherwise.”
Dalton also encouraged workers who are showing signs of illness to seek medical attention.
“Visit your doctor and express your desire to 'self-quarantine' for 14 days to help prevent the potential spread of this virus,” Dalton said in his post. “You will need to provide a medical note to the employer in this instance. Persons who get medical direction to self-quarantine can apply for EI benefits which currently have no waiting period.'
Dalton said he is disappointed in the way this has unfolded. He called on the casino operator “to do the right thing: temporarily pause operations at your facilities and ensure the health and safety of our members is protected.”
Casino Rama opened its doors on July 31, 1996.
At one point, the casino turned a profit of about $1 million a day.
While increased competition has hurt the local gambling facility, it has been called the 'jewel of the crown' of Ontario's resort casinos.
The hotel and entertainment centre have helped cement the casino's place as a popular destination in Ontario.
Since opening in 1996, the casino had never closed its doors to the public - until last month. On Feb. 26, the casino received a bomb threat. As a result, the casino, hotel and entertainment centre were evacuated.
The facility was shut down for about four hours before it was reopened.
The union representing more than 1,000 employees at Casino Rama is “appalled” that the gambling facility’s operator, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, is poised to end employee benefits at the end of this month and is taking the corporate giant to court.
Corey Dalton, the president of Unifor Local 1090, says the union has been negotiating with Gateway for seven weeks, pleading for an extension of benefits and urging the company to “explore” the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), which would “potentially provide some of our members with more than the current Canada Emergency Response Benefit program.'
Gateway, according to Dalton, “insisted they would only provide the CEWS wage subsidy and an extension of benefits beyond June 30 if 100 per cent of the cost of benefits are paid by the employees, and only if the union would agree” to 15 concessions.
Those conditions ranged from the closure of the employee cafeteria and stopping an employee shuttle to allowing supervisors to do union work that would “lead to a loss of hours and, potentially, jobs.”
Other concessions sought by Gateway included the amalgamation of positions and giving up “all bargained rights” for dealer breaks, which “opens the door to less breaks and less jobs,” Dalton claims.
“This is all about cutting staff and cutting costs, which will lead to a significant negative experience for guests and employees,” Dalton said.
Robert Mitchell, Gateway's director of communications and public affairs, did not answer specific questions. However, he provided the following statement.
'Our focus at this time remains on preparations for reopening, working with our partners in government and our employees to provide a safe and healthy environment for our guests and staff when we have authorization to reopen,' Mitchell said in an email.
'Our discussions with Unifor are ongoing with a goal to achieve this result.'
Dalton says the union is fighting mad over Gateway's 'shameful' approach.
“We have filed a grievance for a violation of the Employment Standards Act. We will pursue the grievance and under Section 49 of the Labour Relations Act, which is the fastest method of resolving the dispute,” said Dalton, who said it could take from three weeks to six weeks to get a “legal ruling.”
This is the third time since the pandemic hit that the union has had to fight for an extension of benefits.
He said moving to CEWS would be a big help to laid-off employees.
“Almost all full-time employees would benefit to varying degrees from the subsidy,” said Dalton, noting some would be eligible to receive the maximum of $847 per week.
“Dealers, cashiers, environmental services, facilities, and culinary (employees) would generally receive the greatest benefit,” said Dalton.
It’s part of a bigger problem, he added.
“This continues to show that Gateway lacks all ability to deploy a viable, long-term plan for the success of Casino Rama,” said Dalton, who noted other casino operators have, for the most part, extended benefits for their employees.
“While they continue to make cuts and destroy morale, their competitors aggressively expand and offer improved services to guests,” said Dalton, referencing Great Canadian Gaming’s operations at Woodbine, Ajax, Port Perry, Peterborough, Brantford, Flamboro, Belleville, and Mohawk.
He said Caesars Windsor has committed to provide benefits to employees for the duration of the shutdown.
“Gateway is the only major operator in Ontario refusing to extend benefits for their employees,” said Dalton.
“Gateway is either unwilling or unable to recognize that ongoing, continuous cutbacks to Casino Rama employees and cutbacks to the guest-experience are only exacerbating their drastic decline in business,” he said.
“They are trying to treat a major resort casino like some budget-friendly, local gambling hall.”
Employees are feeling increasingly frustrated, too.
Two employees spoke to OrilliaMatters about the “toxic” environment at Casino Rama. They spoke on the condition of anonymity as they fear for their job.
“Gateway does not value its employees in the least,” one dealer said. “We’ve been treated like the enemy since the day they took over and this recent proposal is proof of that.”
The dealer said the company has left staff “in the dark the day since they took over and never told us what they had planned and then on the first day they were legally allowed they started the layoffs. But leading up to that, they lied and told us in a town hall that they had no plans for layoffs and we have nothing to be concerned about.”
Another long-term employee said staff “are appalled that during a time like this, when money is tight and everything is on hold, a multi-million-dollar company chooses to be so petty.”
Dalton said Gateway “has repeatedly made poor business decisions that has turned this casino, once the best and most respected casino in Ontario, into an afterthought for Ontario gamblers.”
Casino Rama Labour Dispute News
The union leader said “Gateway’s expansion into Ontario has been an unmitigated disaster. Local 1090 strongly believes that Casino Rama workers and guests would be much better with a different operator.”