Crown staff are preparing to take strike action over the coming week in Crown Resorts’ Melbourne and Perth hotels.
Card dealers, bar and restaurant staff, hotel workers and security guards at Melbourne’s Crown Casino will walk off the job for two hours this Friday night.
It’s the first strike action at the Southbank complex in 16 years and about half of Crown’s front-line workers are expected to take part.
Crown staff would decide on Friday night on whether or not to continue action on the following day. Saturday is Derby Day at Flemington racecourse, the first major meeting for Melbourne Cup week.
The United Voice union said negotiations for a new enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) have stalled after six months of negotiation.
The union told The Age its major concern was to win “secure, stable jobs” in the new EBA, and claimed that 70% of Crown’s workforce were in part-time or casual roles.
Crown Resorts said it was working “constructively” with United Voice.
A Crown spokeswoman said the casino was an award-winning “employer of choice”, and that 83% of its workforce were permanent full-time or permanent part-time.
“We provide a flexible workplace which caters to thousands of staff who prefer to work on a part-time or casual basis,” the spokeswoman said.
“Where staff would like to work additional hours … we strive to provide them with the opportunity to increase their hours.”
Perth pay dispute for Crown staff
Meanwhile, Crown staff in Perth have voted to strike during the Spring Racing Carnival.
On Tuesday, union members at the WA casino and entertainment complex voted 96% in favour of industrial action, which will include 24-hour strikes and a ban on serving alcohol.
This would be the first effective strike they participate in for the first time in 10 years.
United Voice WA Secretary Carolyn Smith said the timing of the strikes was deliberate.
“Spring Racing Carnival is one of the busiest times of year for Crown, usually requiring all hands on deck to service around 300,000 patrons per day,” she told Perth Now.
“The amount of money Crown will lose through this strike outweighs what members are actually bargaining for.”
The strike ballot was called over a pay dispute between staff and management.
United Voice said Crown Perth had offered an annual 1.75% pay increase for next three years while staff were seeking 3%.
A Crown spokesperson said: “Crown is currently bargaining with the union for a new enterprise agreement to replace the existing one. The parties are constructively working towards finalising our new agreement.
“Crown prides itself on being an employer of choice and has received numerous awards over the years, including Australian Employer of the Year in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Crown is proud to have over 6000 people working at Crown Perth.”
