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“Privatizing Ontario’s gaming facilities will be devastating to Ontario’s most vulnerable communities,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas.
Toronto (15 March 2012) - Slot machine facilities at Windsor Raceway, Fort Erie and Hiawatha Horse Park in Sarnia are being permanently closed at the end of March, 2012 leaving hundreds without jobs.
Two hundred and fifteen jobs have been eliminated at Windsor Raceway’s slots including those of 31 security guards belonging to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE). Workers were given just over two weeks’ notice of the closure.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation issued a report on March 12, 2012 entitled “Modernizing Lottery and Gaming in Ontario” detailing its intention to substantially expand privatization of lotteries and gaming in the province.
“Privatizing Ontario’s gaming facilities will be devastating to Ontario’s most vulnerable communities,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “McGuinty is eliminating gaming jobs in Windsor, Fort Erie and Sarnia, but this is just the beginning. His plan is an assault on rural Ontario.”
“The Ontario government needs to address its revenue problem by implementing a fair and progressive tax system,” said Thomas. “Cutting jobs does not help our province’s bottom line.”
All slot machines at racetracks will be closed by March 31, 2013, leaving many more unemployed. As many as 60,000 jobs in the gaming industry could be threatened by the planned restructuring and privatization.
Workers in Sarnia, Windsor, and Fort Erie are attending meetings with management regarding planned closures leaving facilities temporarily closed to the public for 24 hours until Thursday, March 15 at 9 a.m. EST.
OPSEU/NUPGE members at Windsor Raceway slots will meet with management to negotiate a closure agreement.
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The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE