No deal after mediated talks in Gateway Casinos labour dispute

Four days of mediated talks recently between Gateway Casinos and the B.C Government and Service Employees' Union did not produce an agreement in the labour dispute.

Nearly 700 unionized employees at casinos in Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton have been walking a picket line since June 29.

Tanya Gabara, director of public relations with Gateway Casinos, says in an open letter the union did not agree to a proposed wage increase that would have every employee receive an increase from seven per cent to as much as 19 per cent in the first year.

"When the union asked us to return to mediation we had hoped this meant the union would come to the table with more reasonable expectations and unfortunately these past few days of mediation have resulted in further disappointment," Gabara says in the letter.

The wage increase would also be in addition to the tips employees receive which range from $8 to $12 per hour.

"The union continues to propose a wage increase of more than 24 per cent," she says. "Their wage proposals remain above the wages of even the largest casinos operating 24/7 in Metro Vancouver."

Find past stories on the labour dispute here.

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