Casino workers win
Star City Casino workers have voted to accept a new enterprise agreement which delivers a pay increase of 9.25 per cent, as well as extra benefits. More than 70 per cent of workers have voted in a ballot at the Sydney Casino — the biggest employer in the CBD — with the overwhelming majority backing the two-year agreement. The casino division of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union (LHMU) organises over 2000 members of the union who are table games dealers, room attendants, food and beverage workers, cleaners, security, casino finance and maintenance workers at Star City. The agreement, which took several months to negotiate, is the fifth enterprise agreement negotiated between the LHMU Casino Union members and Star City. Key highlights in the deal include: * New allowance for public area attendants and facilities employees * Guaranteed training in three major games, in three years, for table games employees providing up to 30 percent pay increases during the life of the agreement * Option to cash-out a portion of annual leave, and long service leave * Option for casuals to become permanent * Two additional public holidays on December 28, 2004 and January 3, 2005 because of Christmas and New Year falling on weekends * Christmas rosters to take into account the previous Christmas roster * Improved redundancy scales of payment * Additional day of bereavement leave to three days * Free hepatitis vaccinations for high-risk areas. "LHMU members won paid maternity leave in the last round of negotiations", Tim Ferrari, LHMU Casino Union Assistant National Secretary, said. "In this agreement we've improved maternity leave rights by introducing continued payment of superannuation at the full-time equivalent rate, while new mothers work part-time for up to two years after their maternity leave. "LHMU members at Star City are pleased with the package, and look forward to receiving their first wage increase of 4.5 per cent, with backpay to June 1, and then 4.75 per cent from June 1, 2005, as well as the other benefits. "By the end of the agreement the pay increase on the base rate of pay represents between $70 and $114 per week for Star City workers", Mr Ferrari said. The campaign for the agreement was not without industrial action, with members taking escalated protected action in the form of wearing badges, one hour stop-works, and a 24-hour strike. Safety and security The union says that now this enterprise agreement is concluded, workers at Star City are gearing up for a safety and security campaign. "In response to the union's push for metal detection, the Casino has recently begun a trial of metal detection wands on an ad hoc basis", said Mr Ferrari. "Workers want to see their lives protected with installation of non-obtrusive metal detection systems in every entrance to the Casino. "This is about protecting our members' lives, by stopping the entry of guns and knives into the casino as has occurred in other casinos both here and overseas. He said there are also other serious safety concerns to be pursued, such as safe travel to and from work and a fully smoke- free workplace. "Our union will also strongly push to protect jobs being replaced with new technology such as electronic table games where the croupier is an animated character appearing on screen, as well as the cashless poker machines that don't require manual payment of jackpots." The LHMU will now lodge the Star City Enterprise Agreement 2004 for certification with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.