Having reached a contract agreement with Falls Management Company, bargaining team members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union managed to avert the strike undertaken by 350 members of security staff at Casino Niagara and Niagara Fallsview on June 2. The major points upon which the agreement was concluded are improved job security language, schedules for part-time employees, wage increases, improvements to pensions and vacations.

The agreement is said to be a three-year deal that expires on March 31, 2009. The members were supposed to vote on the agreement discussed on June, 2006.

Here is what Jodi Hutton, President of OPSEU Local 278, says: “Our bargaining team put in a tremendous effort to reach this deal… Our goal from the beginning of talks was to improve the working lives of our members, which also improves the safety of patrons coming into these casinos…The bargaining team is unanimously recommending that the members vote in favour of the agreement”. Hutton adds: “We are proud to be able to continue to serve residents and visitors in this community”.