The strike at Caesars Windsor is over.
About two thousand workers ratified a new three-year deal on Monday by a vote of 75%.
This settlement is similar to the first rejected April 5 with a wage increase of $1.75/hr over three years and signing bonuses of $1,600 for full-time workers and $1,200 for part-time employees.
Unifor Local 444 President Dave Cassidy says he’s confident customers will return quickly because the workers are first class and the casino has a plan.
"Our membership is the face and our members give the best service and they're the best in the business," says Cassidy.
Some of the gains include a casino promise to not close restaurants or contract out restaurant work to private food operators during the agreement, a higher hourly wage in the second year instead of the third, more tips for casual workers and improved shift staffing levels.
The last two tentative deals were rejected by a narrow margin.
Workers have been on strike since April 6.
Caesars Windsor says it's happy that the labour disruption has been resolved and looks forward to welcoming back their guests starting at 11am on Thursday.
Pitbull is rescheduled for June 23.
This worker, who wanted to remain anonymous, says they have it good because other bar employees don’t have benefits.
"We have everything for a server. All my life I've been a server and this is the best... benefits," she says.
Most Caesars Windsor workers say they are ready to go back to work, including this one who didn't want to be identified, saying two months is a long time to be on strike.
"I believe everybody is ready to go back to work and I believe we are happy with what we got and fought for," he says.
Cassidy says participation in this bargaining session from the provincial mediator, Unifor Canada president Jerry Dias and Caesars Windsor regional manager Kevin Laforet really helped push the successful talks along.
He says this is the toughest bargaining he's ever been a part of.