United Voice News
Arrogant Crown slapped down in court about looming strike
Attempts by Crown Melbourne to deprive staff of information about their right to take strike action during the Spring Racing Carnival have failed, following action in two courts by Crown workers.
Thousands of casino workers start voting today on strike action, after Crown Casino failed to offer a fair pay increase or reverse changes that could cost experienced dealers almost $5000 a year.
These results mean Crown staff can vote in an environment free from intimidation or misinformation about their rights.
In the lead up to voting, Crown moved to starve workers of information about their rights, by removing union noticeboards and throwing union organisers out of the staff dining room.
This morning Fair Work Australia made an interim order against Crown to ensure its employees have access to union officials in their dining room.
Meanwhile in separate action taken by Crown workers in the Federal Court yesterday, an agreement was reached with Crown to have union noticeboards reinstated.
“Today as Crown staff begin voting on strike action, it is vitally important they are able to have a free vote, with full knowledge of their rights,” said Jess Walsh, Victorian Secretary of LHMU, the Casino Union.
“Crown has used underhanded tactics to try to deny staff information about these rights. These efforts have spectacularly failed.”
“These court actions were taken to ensure Crown workers can vote freely without intimidation or misinformation.”
“Staff were already angry after Crown told them it cannot afford a fair wage increase and needs to make changes that could cost experienced dealers almost $5k a year, despite its $300 million profit.”
“Crown’s actions over the last week are likely to antagonise staff even further.”
Crown staff applied in the Federal Court for interlocutory orders for their union noticeboards to be reinstated.
In a separate action, Fair Work Australia made an interim order against Crown, instructing the casino resume union organisers’ access to the staff dining room.
Voting on the protected action ballot will conclude by early October, clearing the way for Crown workers to take strike action during the Spring Racing Carnival.
Union members have rejected Crown’s wage offer of about 3.5% per year, and changes that would see projected wage rates for dealers’ cut by about $2.40 an hour.
Crown is the largest and richest casino in Southern Hemisphere. It just announced a $292 million profit. It is spending $450 million upgrading and expanding the casino.
