United Voice News
Rock solid-arity delivers big win at Crown
Members at Crown Casino won a landmark agreement that sets new industry benchmarks in job security and casual conversion — and includes a 14% pay rise over three years.
They also proved once again, when guards stand together they are unbreakable.
Security at Melbourne’s Crown Casino is split in two. In house guards patrol the gaming floor, while those with contractor MSS secure the rest of Crown.
Normally it isn’t an issue. But all hell broke loose when MSS, during negotiations on a new union agreement, tried to remove a clause preventing its guards working on the gaming floor.
MSS delegate Joey Sciberras (pictured, above), a Crown veteran of over a decade, believes it would have put Crown and MSS members in conflict with each other.
“It would have taken away overtime for Crown security. And we wouldn’t have had as many experienced MSS guards where we need them.”
But MSS were no match for their 98% unionised site.
At a mass meeting 80 MSS and Crown members stood side by side, sending a strong message of solidarity. Overwhelming support by MSS members for industrial action also helped ramp up the pressure.
Eventually, management backed down.
“These are two huge companies, but we won that battle and that shows we won’t be pushed or bullied by anyone,” said Joey.
Joey believes the key to their success was their collective strength.
“Ultimately they underestimated how strong we were on site and when push came to shove, they didn’t want to take their chances.”
