Unifor and Gateway Casinos announce return to operations agreement

BURNABY, BC, July 7, 2020 /CNW/ - After weeks of discussions, Unifor and Gateway Casinos are pleased to announce a return to operations agreement was reached between both parties.

"The COVID-19 crisis has hit Canada's gaming industry particularly hard, all but shutting down this vital sector affecting thousands of workers and their families," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "This agreement with Gateway Casinos is an important step in the right direction towards providing our members with certainty in these uncertain times."

The scope of the agreement includes hundreds of Unifor members at Gateway Casinos properties in Ontario and British Columbia including:

Ontario:

• Cascades Chatham
• Starlight Point Edward
• Gateway Casinos Sarnia
• Gateway Casinos Sudbury
• Gateway Casinos Innisfil Security
• the Centralized Technical Operations

British Columbia:

• Chances Kamloops
• Chances Williams Lake
• Grand Villa Burnaby Surveillance

The agreement provides an extension of benefits while also improving job security. As part of the agreement, Unifor members will also have an option to elect a retroactive paid leave partially funded by the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS).

"Gateway has taken an approach to leverage CEWS to offer employees paid leave during this crisis," Tony Santo, CEO of Gateway Casinos. "We are very pleased that we have been able to work together to offer this significant opportunity to gaming employees working for these Gateway operations."

Additionally, the agreement includes a number of items to assist Gateway's business to more quickly and efficiently return to operations and to get as many Gateway employees and Unifor members back to work as soon as possible. Both parties look forward to working together on preparing the businesses to re-open as soon as provincial governments deem it safe to do so.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector and represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

Information about the union's response to the pandemic, as well as resources for members can be found at unifor.org/COVID19.

SOURCE Unifor