Crown casino workers in Melbourne announce New Year's Eve strike amid wage row
Crown casino workers in Melbourne will strike on New Year's Eve over a wage dispute, protesting potential pay cuts for new hires.Summary
Workers at Melbourne's Crown casino are set to strike on New Year's Eve, marking the first industrial action in the casino's history. The United Workers Union (UWU) announced that approximately 500 workers, including croupiers, bar staff, and security personnel, will walk off the job from 10 pm to 2 am in protest against a proposed wage structure. The UWU states that Crown's proposal would result in pay cuts of $10,000 to $32,000 per year for new employees, creating a two-tiered system. Workers rejected the proposal, with 87% voting against it in mid-December, fearing job insecurity and a “race-to-the-bottom” employment model. Crown has stated it will hire temporary workers to minimize disruption and maintains that its employees are already paid significantly above industry standards, and that the latest offer would continue to increase rates. The UWU asserts that Crown has refused to negotiate on the wage issue and calls for a fair proposal to avoid further escalation.
(Source：ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation))