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by: Gene Koprowski.
Workers at the Casino du Lac-Leamy this week voted for a new contract that will give them pay increases of two to 2.5 percent every year during the next five years, avoiding a strike that could have imperiled gambling operations there.

According to Alain Savignac, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees local representing cashiers, slot machine attendants, doormen, cloakroom attendants, customer service employees, parking lot attendants and other workers, an amazing 98 percent of union members voted for the contract this week.

Savignac said the agreement improves medical insurance and pensions for union members who work at the casino, which has about 1,600 employees.
Union spokesman Jean-Pierre Proulx said he will meet with union members next week and, pending their approval, an official agreement should be reached soon afterwards.
"The important thing was to have a real retirement plan as employees of Loto-Québec," said Jean-Fran Larochelle, a slot machine worker. "Insurance was also improved. Those are our two big points. I am very satisfied with the result."

The deal is part of a pact between the trade union and Loto-Québec, which operates casinos in Gatineau, Montreal and Charlevoix.

Dealers and security workers, who are also represented by CUPE, vote on the contract proposal Friday and Monday.

The casino spokeswoman Catherine Schellenberg said Loto-Québec is still in negotiations with the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), which represents food and beverage workers in the three casinos. But an agreement is expected shortly.





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