Loto-Québec's Casino de Montréal reaches tentative deal with unionized croupiers after over two years without new contracts

The union representing Casino de Montréal dealers on Friday reached an agreement in principle with Société des casinos du Québec, the subsidiary of Loto-Québec that operates the property. 

The 545 unionized croupiers at the Casino de Montréal, who have been deprived from a new contract since April 2020, have been on strike since May 21. The full agreement will be presented to members at a general meeting in the coming weeks, where they will vote by secret ballot. The agreement’s content has not been disclosed yet.  

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)’s advisor Jean-Pierre Proulx said in an official statement that the union and management negotiating committees are “satisfied with this agreement and are confident that it will also be to the satisfaction of the dealers”. 

Despite the strike, most activities at the casino located on Notre-Dame Island, continued. 

Dealers had asked for improvements to their daily schedule in order to reduce injuries related to repetitive work, but Loto-Québec said it did not observe an increase in injuries. 

CUPE also criticized the employer for intending to pay new recruits 90% of the lowest salary scale. Management indicated that the entry-level salary is more than 20% above the reference market. 

Earlier this month, the strikes at Pickering Casino Resort and Casino Ajax, two Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (GCGC) properties in Ontario, saw their end after Unifor members ratified their new agreements. Members of Unifor Local 1090 had been on strike since July 29.

A coordinated bargaining table for Unifor members at GCGC properties met in July seeking improvements to wages, benefits and pensions. Unifor negotiations were also trying to reduce the employer’s reliance on precarious part-time jobs. July negotiations derived in averted strikes and new deals with Great Blue Heron Casino, Casino Woodbine, Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands, and Shorelines Casino Peterborough, Elements Casino Mohawk, and Elements Casino Brantford.