Caesars Windsor employees at the WFCU Centre for a contract vote on May 18, 2018. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.Caesars Windsor employees at the WFCU Centre for a contract vote on May 18, 2018. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
Windsor

"It's Not About The Money. It's About The Things."

The failed contract vote for Caesars Windsor employees is bringing out strong reaction on both sides.

The fewer than 2,200 casino employees represented by Unifor Local 444 voted down a tentative four-year deal on Friday. The majority was 52.8% against the tentative agreement.

The vote took place at the WFCU Centre following an informational meeting with the local's administration and bargaining unit.

Many in the first group of members to leave the arena after voting would not speak to the media, but the few who did express passionate concern on both sides of the vote.

Mary Hansen has been a housekeeper at Caesars for 18 years. Suffering from asthma, she voted against the deal because of provisions and work assignments, possibly on a smoking floor of the hotel.

"You could conceivably with this be on a smoking floor for your entire day," says Hansen. "Cigarettes, marijuana, it's whatever. A smoking floor is a smoking floor. The elevator doors open up, they're bad."

Smoking is only permitted in guest rooms on specified floors of the hotel, though per provincial regulations, it is not allowed anywhere else on casino property.

The deal rejected Friday would have allowed for a $2.25/hr raise over the course of the contract. But Hansen stresses that for her, money is only an afterthought.

"It's not about the money, it's about the things," says Hansen. "It's about uniforms so I can do my job, so I can show up in a clean uniform. It's about smoking floors. It's about outsourcing."

Erlinda Roque voted in favour of the deal and was highly emotional upon hearing it was rejected. She said she didn't understand what some of her co-workers were thinking when they voted no.

"You go apply somewhere else, get your job as a dishwasher or as a janitor, and see if you can make anywhere close to what you're making at the casino," said Roque. "Blast your benefits. People are not considering the fact that your benefits are part of your wages."

The employees have been off the job for six weeks, and with this contract rejection, it will be the most extended work stoppage in Caesars Windsor history. A previous walkout in 2004 lasted 42 days.

No new talks were immediately scheduled.

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