Unionized Casino Regina workers took their concerns outside Thursday as contract negotiations continued, with the union warning talks could move toward conciliation if progress isn’t made. Members represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) held an information picket outside the casino as bargaining entered its second day. The union represents more than 200 gaming employees at Casino Regina, including dealers, table game supervisors, customer service representatives, bank staff, security officers, maintenance staff, slot attendants and casino technicians. PSAC says those workers have now been without a contract for 632 days. “With the increase of the cost of living, our wages aren’t keeping up and we need an economic increase in order to keep up with inflation,” Casino Regina employee Michelle Lang said. Lang joined other employees on the information picket line Thursday. She said she earns about $20 an hour after working at the casino for two decades. “All the years we’ve just fallen behind or stayed stagnant, so now’s the time that we need to keep up with inflation,” she said. Bargaining began on Wednesday for the DCL 40005 Casino Regina members. According to a social media post from the prairie region of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, members from USJE 40008 and UNE 40064, as well as guests from the Southern Saskatchewan Area Council joined in solidarity. Krysty Thomas, regional vice-president for PSAC Prairies, said the information picket was intended to draw attention to how long employees have been without a deal. “We’ve been without a contract for these workers here at Casino Regina for 632 days. We’re at the bargaining table yesterday and today and we’re just hoping that the employer comes to the table with meaningful movement,” she said. Contract talks are at a crucial point. The union says that if progress isn’t made at the bargaining table this week, an impasse will be declared leading to conciliation. A strike vote always remains a future possibility. The provincial government is awaiting the outcome of this week’s contract talks. It has not commented on the negotiations but holds a consistent position that collective agreements are best resolved directly at the bargaining table.
