Casino Regina workers picket as talks resume after 632 days without a contract

Unionized workers at Casino Regina held an information picket outside the casino on Thursday as contract talks entered a second day, CTV News reported.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) represents more than 200 gaming employees at the downtown casino. They include dealers, table game supervisors, customer service representatives, bank staff, security officers, maintenance workers, slot attendants and casino technicians.

The union says those workers have now gone 632 days without a contract. Bargaining for the members of PSAC local DCL 40005 began on Wednesday. According to a social media post from PSAC's Prairie region cited by CTV, members of USJE 40008 and UNE 40064, along with guests from the Southern Saskatchewan Area Council, joined the picket in solidarity.

Wages the main concern

Krysty Thomas, regional vice-president for PSAC Prairies, said the picket was meant to draw attention to how long employees have waited for a deal. She said the union hoped the employer would come to the table with "meaningful movement."

Casino employee Michelle Lang told CTV that wages have not kept up with the rising cost of living and that workers need an increase to keep pace with inflation. Lang said she earns about $20 an hour after two decades at the casino.

Conciliation possible

The union describes the talks as being at a crucial point. It says that if there is no progress at the table this week, it will declare an impasse, which would lead to conciliation. CTV reported that a strike vote remains a possibility down the road.

The provincial government is waiting to see how this week's talks turn out. It has not commented on the negotiations but has consistently said collective agreements are best settled at the bargaining table.

Casino Regina is operated by SaskGaming, a provincial Crown corporation, in the city's former Union Station.