5 April 2011

Union asks for pay to continue until Christchurch Casino re-opens

After discussions with the casino workers union [the Service and Food Workers Union], Christchurch Casino management has decided to extend the deadline for casino workers to choose whether to leave their jobs or stay.

Today's deadline [Tuesday, 5 April] is the last day the casino is paying the workers' wages.

Service and Food Workers Union Industry Leader Len Richards says the Union has been pushing for a time extension to give workers time to consider their options. The new deadline is Monday, 11 April.

"We've been told that the casino may be operating sooner than previously expected. However, the workers still face weeks, if not months, of uncertainty about their income and could well be forced to live on the unemployment benefit for a lengthy period," Len Richards says.

"This is not acceptable. These workers should continue to be paid their full wage until the casino reopens."

The Christchurch Casino company has covered the wages of workers until today from its business-interruption insurance, he says.

"This has not been paid out of the coffers of the company. SkyCity, half owner of the Christchurch Casino, projects a $130 million plus profit this year.

"The Christchurch Casino has been a very profitable business and owes a debt to its workers for creating those profits."

Workers who have not contacted the company by 5pm on Monday will be deemed to have left their jobs and will be paid out a four-weeks-notice payment, along with their annual leave entitlements.

Those who choose to remain will be paid their holiday pay as either a weekly amount or in a lump sum and they will remain as employees on leave without pay.

"We have written to Gerry Brownlee to suggest that the $1.5 million subsidy for earthquake-affected businesses that the Casino did not avail itself of because of the insurance cover it held, could now be utilised to help the company continue to pay the casino workers who remain in their jobs," Len Richards says.

The casino workers are meeting at 11am on Friday to discuss genuine redundancy compensation for those who choose to leave and full pay for those who remain.

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