The mediation between Gateway Casino and its more than 675 employees who are members of the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) have stalled.  Proceedings came to a halt the same day hundreds of people jointed the picket lines at all four sites of the casino in the Thompson Okanagan to show their support.

According to Doug Kinna, BCGEU executive vice president, “We made moves on our end in mediation trying to get to a deal, but Gateway still refuses to pay its workers what they are worth.  Gateway keeps saying publicly that they want our members back at work but, behind closed doors, they are offering insulting wage proposals that do not even keep up with planned minimum wage increases.”

BCGEU treasurer elaborated on Kinna’s statement saying, “The public knows the casino industry is booming and that workers are the key to Gateway’s success – they know the company needs to do the right thing and compensate its employees properly. ”

There appears to be no end in sight for the strike and the employees tend to continue picketing until the casino agrees to pay “… a living wage. ” In addition to the living wage request, employees are also asking for “better working conditions and respect on the job.”

Employees working at four of Gateway’s casinos walked off the job at the end of June after mediation attempts were unsuccessful. 

The union represents people working at all four of Gateway’s four casinos, including Playtime Casino, Lake City Casino, and two Cascades Casinos.  Employees deal table games, and work as slot attendants, in the count room, in the kitchen, as security, and in the guest services and maintenance departments.