Media Release

09 07 04

Casino refuses to reinstate SFWU Delegate

union will picket after massive email campaign

Following the dismissal of a union Delegate last Friday the Service and Food Workers Union attended mediation with Dunedin Casino management on Wednesday 7 July.

The mediation, which lasted all day, did not provide a resolution for either party, with Casino management standing by their original decision to sack the Delegate.

A picket is planned for tomorrow night (Saturday 10 July) at 6pm outside the casino in Dunedin. This picket will build on last weeks’ action, which saw a large crowd of supporters and union members picketing in the Octagon, outside the casino, demanding that management respect the importance of elected Delegates to rank and file union members.

“The rash step taken by management in firing this Delegate may seriously undermine the communications and organising potential of this worksite, at a time when union membership at the Casino is growing fast.” Said Campbell Duignan, Service and Food Workers Southern Regional Secretary.

For the last three days huge amounts of support have poured in for the union members at the casino. Locally the support has included offers for financial assistance, petitions as well as emails and letters expressing solidarity with the workers.

“Union members at Dunedin Casino are excited about such a large campaign being launched so soon after they began to organise. With an active and energetic movement growing amongst staff at the casino, this campaign offers a chance for a better deal and a louder voice at work.” says Mr Duignan.

SFWU is appealing to the international labour movement to support the organising at Dunedin Casino - and it is paying off, with nearly 1000 emails sent to the employers in the last 72 hours. International labour campaign website www.labourstart.org has alerted thousands of unionists worldwide to the email campaign, to a massive response.

The campaign will continue until an agreement has been reached between the SFWU and Dunedin Casino management.

IMPORTANT

Picket Information

A picket to support union members at Dunedin Casino will begin at 6pm tomorrow night (Saturday 10 July) outside the Dunedin Casino.

Concerned members of the public are invited to come along and support the SFWU members and their Delegates.

ENDS

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