Casino Niagara Gives Union Yet Another Chance

But recent success by the union in labor negotiations at Casino Windsor has caused employees of Niagara to take another look at what the union offers.

The Canadian Auto Workers union is making yet another atempt to organize employees at Casino Niagara's two locations. The union, which had already tried four times previously to enlist workers at the Ontario casinos, said it was invited by casino staff to have at it one more time.

The CAW failed to capture the hearts of casino laborers in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2005. But recent success by the union in labor negotiations at Casino Windsor has caused employees of Niagara to take another look at what the union offers.

Casino Windsor, soon to be Caesars Windsor, agreed to staff a ratio of full-time to part-time employees that is among industry leaders, mostly due to union insistence.

Niagara recently had policy changes to staffing schedules which included replacement of full-time jobs with part-time positions.

Before a union is allowed to apply to the Ontario Labour Relations Board for permission to organize, 40% of workers must sign union cards. Once the application with the Labour Board is complete, a vote is held, with 50% needed to enlist union representation.

Buzz Hargrove, president of the CAW, asserted that his union would be best for Casino Niagara workers due to the union's strong casino industry presence. The CAW represents over 6000 employees at Canadian casinos.