Edmonton Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees employed at the Calgary Casino are going public with their frustration over low wages with an information picket at Casino Edmonton owned by Heinz Oldach, the same owner of Casino Calgary.
Bargaining between CUPE Local 40 and the Calgary Casino has been ongoing for a year but there is still no agreement in wages. Oldach owns four casinos in Alberta. Media has reported that he earns over $1 million in profits from the Casino in Calgary alone.
CUPE members want to raise awareness about the millions in profits earned by legalized gambling as compared to the very low wages. The average wage at Casino Calgary is $7.50 per hour.
“According to media reports, the profits from this casino are over $1 million every year. That is after charities have taken their share. Someone is making an awful lot of money but it sure isn’t the people whose work makes it all happen,” says CUPE National Representative Josey Finley.
“The average wage at Casino Calgary is $7.50 an hour. The exact same as it was in 1997 when the casino opened. While profits are soaring, casino workers are making poverty wages. Many hold down two or three jobs just to make ends meet. On Sunday, we plan to share all of this information with casino patrons. At the end of the day, we think they will see this situation as unfair as we do,” she said.
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CUPE is Canada’s largest union with over half a million women and men who provide public services. In Alberta, CUPE’s 31,000 members work in health care, municipalities, schools, colleges, universities, libraries, emergency medical services, social services and casinos. Visit our CUPE websites for more information www.cupe.ca and cupealberta.ab.ca
For further information:
Pam Beattie, CUPE Communications
(780) 288-1230 (cellular)
Bargaining between CUPE Local 40 and the Calgary Casino has been ongoing for a year but there is still no agreement in wages. Oldach owns four casinos in Alberta. Media has reported that he earns over $1 million in profits from the Casino in Calgary alone.
CUPE members want to raise awareness about the millions in profits earned by legalized gambling as compared to the very low wages. The average wage at Casino Calgary is $7.50 per hour.
- WHAT:
- Information Picket on Casino Workers’ Low Wages
- WHEN:
- Wednesday March 19
5:00 p.m. - WHERE:
- Casino Edmonton
7055 Argyll Road
Calgary
“According to media reports, the profits from this casino are over $1 million every year. That is after charities have taken their share. Someone is making an awful lot of money but it sure isn’t the people whose work makes it all happen,” says CUPE National Representative Josey Finley.
“The average wage at Casino Calgary is $7.50 an hour. The exact same as it was in 1997 when the casino opened. While profits are soaring, casino workers are making poverty wages. Many hold down two or three jobs just to make ends meet. On Sunday, we plan to share all of this information with casino patrons. At the end of the day, we think they will see this situation as unfair as we do,” she said.
- 30 -
CUPE is Canada’s largest union with over half a million women and men who provide public services. In Alberta, CUPE’s 31,000 members work in health care, municipalities, schools, colleges, universities, libraries, emergency medical services, social services and casinos. Visit our CUPE websites for more information www.cupe.ca and cupealberta.ab.ca
For further information:
Pam Beattie, CUPE Communications
(780) 288-1230 (cellular)