Two Ontario Casino Workers Authorize Strike

Unionized employees at two casinos in southwestern Ontario voted to authorize strike action, if necessary, to back their demands in ongoing contract negotiations. 91.5 percent of workers at Cascades Casino Chatham and 93.8 percent of workers at Starlight Casino Point Edward approved the strike authorization.

Unifor Local 444, which represents the workers, said 97 workers at Cascades Casino Chatham and 117 workers at Starlight Casino Point Edward belong to the union. The union said the current collective agreements will expire on November 11 and that talks will continue throughout the weekend.

Strike authorization does not mean workers have immediately walked off the job. It paves the way for a possible strike if no agreement is reached. The outcome of the weekend talks will determine whether the dispute turns into strike action.