Casino workers lose place at table

Date: 25 January 2001

Queensland's Gold Coast Jupiters Casino has threatened to lock out all staff working on the gaming tables - roulette, blackjack and baccarat - because they are involved in legally protected industrial action.

Jupiters Casino is the biggest and most profitable casino in Queensland.

The 530 table games casino staff - members of the LHMU - began the industrial campaign earlier this week after three or four weeks of negotiations for an enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) collapsed.

Jupiters Casino is the only casino in Australia not to have an EBA .

" The Casino workers want an agreement which will bring them up to the standards of other workers in this industry," Irene Monro, LHMU Queensland Assistant Secretary said today.

" The company is upset that our members have the guts, by wearing dignified badges, to silently but firmly tell the Casino's patrons that they are getting a raw deal in wage negotiations.

" The badges are discreet. They are not rude. They simply say: ' Pay Rise. Let Us Play; Empty pockets, Empty bellies; EBA deal us in.'

" The company has sent the union a warning letter that they don't like the badges. They don't want any form of visual protest and they are prepared to show their displeasure by refusing to allow our members to work and be paid.

" At the moment the union members have shown they will not be cowered by these legal threats and are wearing the protest badges."

LHMU members have asked to be paid at the same rates as workers at other Australian casinos as well as asking for five weeks annual leave, paid training time and union delegates rights.

The LHMU proudly represents more than 150,000 hard working women and men.

For further info:

LHMU Queensland Assistant Secretary, Irene Monro tel 0419 767 786, or

LHMU Queensland Organising Co-ordinator Katrina McGill tel: 0418 761 057

For further information

Contact:	Andrew Casey
Union:	Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union
Phone:	8204 7206
Fax:	92821 4480
Email:	andrewc@lhmu.org.au
WWW:	http://www.lhmu.org.au/

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