Unifor joins rally to save 1,400 jobs in Niagara Region

NIAGARA FALLS, ON, March 29, 2017 /CNW/ - Unifor joins the Mayor and local politicians at a pubic rally to stop 1,400 job cuts at Niagara Casinos that result from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) modernization program.

"This is a fight for the future of our local economy in Niagara," said Greg Brady, President of Local 199 representing a unit of 200 security service workers at the Niagara Casinos and a total of 2,500 members. "The value of decent jobs in our community is more than some numbers in a balance sheet at the Ministry of Finance, and the provincial government needs to know this."

Unifor is urging members of the public to attend the rally to save the proposed elimination of jobs.  Attending in solidarity with the workers will be Regional Chair Alan Caslin, Mayor Jim Diodati and MPP Wayne Gates. The massive job cuts were revealed by a third party consultant in the HLT advisory report.  HLT's report reviewed the OLG's modernization program approved by the Ontario Government.

WHAT:	Public Rally to send a message and save 1,400 jobs
WHERE:	Fallsview Casino entrance, 6380 Fallsview Blvd. Niagara Falls
WHEN:	Wednesday, March 29 at 4:00 p.m.

Unifor expressed concern that the OLG modernization plan is a privatization scheme that seeks to lower labour costs and expenses to turn a larger profit. While Unifor unionized gaming workers at Caesars Windsor, and Casino Rama have a direct say in workplace changes that may result from modernization, and the National union can offer a mechanism to fight back on job cuts, the majority of the workers at the Niagara Casinos are not unionized.

Brady said, "While efforts like the rally today are fundamental in the fight to secure these jobs, no single tactic can be successful on its own. This is why Unifor will be here every step of the way to defend goods job now and in the future."

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers in every sector of the economy.  It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged.

SOURCE Unifor

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Unifor Communications Representative Denise Hammond at [email protected] or 416-707-5794 (cell).