Mayor should pick up phone: CAW rep

BILL BRADLEY

Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez should phone the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) management every day to help end the 50-day OLG strike, said Canadian Auto Workers representative Brian Stevens concerning the strike at Sudbury Downs. He spoke to 45 striking OLG Slots workers at the Mine Mill Hall Saturday at a membership update session.

“Talks could happen Tuesday or it may take a while longer. There was a meeting Monday morning, but the OLG rep left abruptly, supposedly to check on some matters,” said Frank Marcil, unit chair of the Greater Sudbury strikers Monday morning.

John Letherby, manager of OLG communications, said “we are hopeful meaningful negotiations may resume as early as Tuesday to resolve strike actions by approximately 850 employees at our Brantford, Sudbury and Woodbine (Toronto) locations.”

Stevens said mayors of affected cities are getting concerned about the economic fallout from the strike.

Rodriguez told Northern Life recently he had made calls to senior management at OLG, including those involved in the Sudbury Downs operation, but was leaving the parties to bargain themselves. However, he said he “consider(s) it serious when any revenues are lost to the city.”

OLG management said they understand how difficult the prolonged six-week strike has been for families of the workers, they were committed to seeking a mutually acceptable agreement to end the strike. On Sunday, the OLG held informal talks with union negotiators, according to a Canada News Wire release Monday.

At Sudbury Downs, 70 workers belong to the union and provide hospitality and gaming services. Greater Sudbury workers are going after their second contract, and make anywhere from $15 to $20 per hour.

Talks broke off Thursday, said Stevens.

He said OLG management has bargained in bad faith and has little regard for constructive bargaining.

“This sudden turn of events comes after a series of senior level meetings and discussions between OLG and CAW. At 4:35 p.m. July 17, OLG called the chairpersons (of the three separate bargaining committees for CAW) along with myself to a meeting where they demanded that CAW withdraw or accept the company’s proposal on 25 items by a 10 p.m. deadline,” said Stevens.

Some of the 25 items included job postings, split shifts, casuals and layoff and recall matters, said Stevens.

“What they are demanding is to not allow part-time workers to become full-time if an opening occurs. That makes no sense when you consider their revenue stream. This is not a hurting industry.”

OLG chief executive officer Kelly McDougald said in a letter to striking employees that she was disappointed talks broke off Thursday.

“I want a deal that’s fair — a deal that works for everyone. We want successful facilities with rewarded and motivated employees. That’s what we wanted from the start ... I want you back at work,” wrote McDougald.

It is the demand by OLG management for significant concessions that is prolonging the strike, said Stevens.

“It is ridiculous. The sum total of what we asked for as a union amounts to one day of lost revenue for the strike across the three work sites.

“The provincial government is losing $25 million per week from this strike. We have been on strike 48 days. That translates to $150 million of lost revenue.”

Stevens said there needs to be at least a week of bargaining before both parties can agree to a contract.