What: Crown Sydney Casino workers take strike action.
When and where Press conference: 11.30am, Friday August 8, on the waterfront near the Crown Sydney Barangaroo building.
Strike action: 6.30pm, Friday, August 8 Crown Sydney Barangaroo.
Who: United Workers Union Casinos Director Andrew Jones with striking Crown Sydney workers.

 

Crown Sydney Casino workers are taking protected strike action during Crown’s busiest period today to demand a pay offer that allows them to meet the soaring costs of living in Australia’s most expensive city.

The four-hour strike by 70 workers covering Crown’s gaming operations, security and cleaning is the first casino strike in Sydney since 2009, and the first ever at Crown. It is part of Crown workers’ ongoing fight for fair pay, better working conditions and their demand for recognition from management about the work they do every day.

The workers are taking their argument to the owners of Crown, the largest US private equity firm Blackstone, which manages more than $1 trillion in assets. Workers at Crown Sydney Casino have endured years of upheaval following Crown’s breaches of anti-money laundering laws that incurred fines of $450 million.

“When you consider the high costs of living in Sydney, Crown workers can’t accept an offer that doesn’t address years of soaring inflation and resulting higher prices,” United Workers Union Casinos Director Andrew Jones said today.

“Today a room attendant cleaning suites that charge up to $40,000 a night is being paid just seven cents above the minimum award. Meanwhile, their colleagues doing the same job at Crown Melbourne are earning $7.94 more an hour.

“Crown’s whole business relies on these workers—but they’re being paid less to do the same work in a city that costs more.

“As a result workers are voting with their feet—Crown Sydney Casino has seen annual staff turnover rates of around 60% in recent years.

“This strike is about dignity, respect, and the right to build a decent life in this city. Clearly, Blackstone have the financial means to provide a cost-of-living pay rise for our members. It’s time they came to the table with a meaningful offer that stops workers rushing out the door.

“Our members have made it clear: to retain skilled hospitality professionals, Crown must pay them properly and respect their length of service. Instead, Crown is trying to cut length-of-service increments from the classification structure—a direct attack on experienced workers and their future pay.

“The workers’ action sends a clear message to Crown Sydney that the workforce won’t accept an unfair deal and they are exercising their legal rights to take industrial action.”

Background: Crown Sydney’s current offer is 3.25 per cent, 3 per cent and 3 per cent. The most recent March quarter private sector annualised wage increases stand at 3.9 per cent.

The views expressed in this press release are the industrial views of the United Workers Union.