Members of Unifor Local 444 march around Caesars Windsor during labour disruption, April 17, 2018. (Photo by Maureen Revait) Members of Unifor Local 444 march around Caesars Windsor during labour disruption, April 17, 2018. (Photo by Maureen Revait)
Windsor

Talks Set To Begin As Caesars Windsor Strike Marches On

After almost two weeks since Caesars Windsor workers took to the picket line, the union representing the company's striking employees is headed back to the bargaining table.

Contract talks will begin on Wednesday between Caesars and Unifor Local 444 for the first time since workers walked off the job on April 5. The strike began after the majority of workers voted against a tentative agreement.

Local 444 President James Stewart said based on the lack of movement from Caesars Windsor to get back to the bargaining table, he's not expecting a quick resolution to the strike.

"We could have been bargaining within a couple days of the turned down ratification. At first, the casino didn't want to get back to the table," said Stewart. "I don't want to be too critical because they've agreed to get back to the table, but we could have been working over the course of the last [several] days to get a deal, and that hasn't happened."

Last week on April 10, the union presented a new contract offer but Caesars said it could not sit down with Unifor until Wednesday of this week.

Striking Caesars employees held an impromptu rally in front of Caesars on Tuesday, and Stewart said the workers are sending a message to their employer that states "come prepared to move the needle forward." He said the union has a firm idea of what its members want heading into this round of bargaining.

"They were very clear with what their expectations were and we heard them loud and clear, and we support them," he said. "They're adamant about what their expectations are, they're adamant with their bargaining committee to make sure they don't come back with anything less than what they deserve."

All Caesars Windsor events, concerts, and hotel bookings have been cancelled throughout April as a result of the ongoing strike.

Unifor Local 444 represents around 2,300 employees at Caesars Windsor, including cooks, dealers, housekeepers, and janitors.

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