United Voice

In this issue:

1. Crown is still stalling on pay increases

2. What is involved in legally protected industrial action?

3. Key issues still unresolved

4. Crown's table games classifications have to go

5. Register your opposition

Crown is still stalling on pay increases

It has now been over a year since Crown employees got a pay rise.

During that time, Crown employees have made millions of dollars of profit for the casino’s multi-national owners.

You would think that after 12 meetings with your Casino Union bargaining team, Crown management would be starting to get the message.

But they are still stalling.

In the last two meetings, your Casino Union bargaining team has told management that an 11% pay increase is not good enough and doesn’t recognise the value of our work.

We have also said that the table games pay cut proposal needs to be withdrawn.

We are also demanding movement in other important areas: F&B classifications, security officers’ breaks, gaming machines classifications, sick leave and annual leave.

We are still waiting to get a reasonable response from Crown on many of these issues. And time is running out.

In meetings held on site recently, hundreds of Casino Union members said they would be prepared to take action in support of our claims for a fair deal at Crown.

No-one really wants it to come to that.

But with a choice between copping a dodgy deal, or taking legally protected action in support of a fair one, the decision was unanimous — everyone is prepared to take a stand on this EA and take action if necessary.

What is involved in legally protected industrial action?

Industrial action is a last resort: it is only necessary if an employer is stalling or refusing to put a fair deal on the table.

Industrial action only involves union members: you can’t participate if you are not a member.

Industrial action can take many different forms: work bans, stop work meetings or even  a strike.

Industrial action can only happen after a proper union member vote: conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission.

Industrial action is legal: if you follow the right procedure, you can’t be harassed, discriminated against or have your job threatened if you participate or support industrial action.

Industrial action is actually pretty rare: it usually doesn’t come to this but it has at Crown because the table games cuts are unfair and they are stalling on pay.

Key issues still unresolved

• Pay increases — still waiting on a fair offer
  
  

• Improvements to annual leave — Crown said “no” to our claim for industry standard leave for shift-workers
  
  

• Improving classifications for F&B Attendants — a review to be conducted over the next three months
  
  

• Improving rules about when you have to provide medical certificates — Crown has rejected our proposal
  
  

• Meal breaks for security officers — if we have to respond to incidents while on breaks, we should get paid breaks
  
  

• Improving classifications for Gaming Machine Attendants — Crown has rejected our proposal
  
  

• Table games classifications —Crown’s cuts could mean dealers lose thousands of dollars each year
  
  

• Security classifications need to be improved to recognise a proper career path for security officers

Crown's table games classifications have to go

Crown’s table games classification changes are bad because they will cost dealers money over the next three years.

The changes remove some pay progression levels from the structure in exchange for games training that many dealers were promised anyway.

Crown’s table games changes could cost first game dealers currently with 1 – 2 years service about $5, 000 over the next 3 years.

Crown’s table games changes could cost first game dealers with less than a year’s service more than $5, 000 over the next 3 years.

Crown’s changes could cost second game dealers $4, 000 over the next three years.
Crown’s changes will mean third game dealers will have to compete for hours and job security with other third game dealers earning $2.40 less per hour than they do.

Crown’s table games changes cheapen the role of Crown dealers by thousands of dollars each year.

If Crown gets away with these cuts, who is next? Security? Hotels? Food and Beverage?

Crown needs to remove this proposal from the bargaining table today.

(Note: all figures based on a 24 hour week and assuming 3.5% pay increases would have been paid. Gains/losses will be greater with more hours worked.)

Register your opposition

By registering your opposition to Crown’s dodgy pay increases and classification cuts you will ensure you get to vote on industrial action if Crown refuses to back down.

Click here to register now!

You can also register by emailing crown2010@lhmu.org.au, by phoning your Union Rights Centre on (03) 9235 7777, or by filling out a registration form on site.