Caesars Windsor approaching midnight strike deadline

The City’s second largest employer Caesars Windsor has a strike deadline of midnight tonight. CTV Windsor’s Bob Bellacicco explains.

Unifor Local 444 members are preparing for a midnight strike deadline at Caesars Windsor.

Contract talks continued throughout the day on Wednesday between the union and the casino - the current agreement expires at 11:59 tonight.

“We’re still miles apart in a lot of issues, mainly wages, but there is still a lot of time to go,” said Unifor Local 444 Treasurer Manny Cardoso. “We know how things go last couple of minutes, things can change really quickly,”

In late March, close to 1,450 workers voted 98 per cent in favour of a strike mandate.

“Other industries have, really made massive gains in wages in the last few years,” argued Cardoso. “[The workers] feel like they’ve been behind the eight ball on that. So, they’re looking to recoup some of the, you know, what other industries have picked up.”

In 2018, 2300 workers hit the picket lines at Caesars Windsor after turning down two tentative agreements. Third time was the charm, with 75 per cent agreeing to a new deal.

In a statement to CTV earlier on Wednesday, Caesars Windsor said they respect the bargaining process and the union leadership’s strong mandate to reach a deal on behalf of the membership.

There are no shows booked at the casino until May 1, but there are guests staying at there tonight.

“We will be very cordial with the member, with any patrons that are in there and if things have to go down, we will make sure that the casino gets the time to get their people out,” said Cardoso.

According to Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, Americans make up 33 per cent of the local tourism business with Caesars being the biggest draw.