In this issue:

1. Time to vote YES for action!

2. So how do I vote?

3. Actions explained

Time to vote YES for action!

Thousands of union members will vote this week on taking industrial action at Crown.

Ballot papers will arrive at your home from the Australian Electoral Commission. 

These ballot papers will be for a protected industrial action at Crown.

Negotiations have broken down after thousands of Casino Union members said they would not stand for Crown’s dodgy proposal — but the casino refused to budge.

How do Crown justify their position?

As Bill Clinton said, “It’s the economy stupid.” Crown said local and global economic uncertainty is why they cannot offer a better pay increase and why they want to slash the conditions of dealers.

So let us examine Crown Melbourne’s economy:

• $349 million dollars in profit for 2009/2010 financial year
• operating revenue of $1.559 billion
• VIP turn over of $26.9 billion
• including main gaming floor revenue of $876 million
• that’s up by 4% on last year, which is 4 times the improvement seen at Burswood
• recently spent $212 million on new private gaming rooms
• Rowen Cragie CEO of Crown Limited gets paid over $5.5 million
• David Courtney CEO Crown Melbourne gets paid over $2.425 million

Crown’s economy sounds pretty good doesn’t it? Profits are on the up and up, the CEOs are making millions and they are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on new facilities to drive even more guest in.

All of this and they continue to say:

NO to a fair wage increase; refusing to budge from 11%

NO to maintaining our current conditions; making sure no employee is worse off under the new agreement

NO to classification improvements in table games and gaming machines

NO to industry standard annual leave with loading

NO to paid meal breaks for security

“I am voting YES to industrial action to support my fellow members and to send a message to Crown that their offer is not good enough!” Jack Raine, Dealer (pictured)

Crown told the press that negotiations are ongoing and they want to continue to talk.

Union members are saying talk is cheap and we need Crown to make a serious offer that resolves the outstanding issues.

Below is a how to vote card for you to follow, to make sure your vote counts.

Voting YES to both options is the only way to tell Crown loud and clear that you want a fair deal!

So say no to Crown’s dodgy deal and VOTE YES for action.

So how do I vote?

Actions explained

When you receive your ballot paper, you will see it has two questions on it.  They are:

Unlimited number of 1 to 24 hour stoppages. This gives members maximum flexibility in deciding what length of time we could hold a stop work for — any time from 1 hour to 24 hours. It also means we can use as many of these stoppages as we like.

Unlimited number of indefinite stoppages. This means a stoppage can start with no end time applied and it can run as long as members want it to.

Both of these options give members a range of choices in what type and length of action we take.

So what does it take to win the ballot for industrial action?

50% plus 1 of all union members must vote for the ballot to be legal. Every vote counts!

You must complete it and get it back in time to make sure we win this ballot and send Crown a strong message that we are united against their offer and willing to take action in support of a better one.

Of those who vote, over 50% must vote yes for the ballot to be successful.  So make sure you support your fellow members by voting yes for action.

How will we decide what action and when we will take it?

Right now it’s all about making sure everyone votes to win the right to take action. 

Once we win that right members will decide when and what type of action we will take.

Is it important I vote yes vote for both options?

It is vital that you vote yes for all options so members will have the best choice for what action we take.