The union successfully took a strike vote against the casino late last year and has held a strike certificate against the property since January.
Union President Dennis Britton on Monday charged that the casino’s management was dragging its feet in signing a new industrial contract, which would include salary increases for over 200 casino employees.
He said that, “When the casino closed its doors illegally, that situation was resolved contingent upon the casino signing a new contract with us. It has been over a year since negotiations began and we are saying that we want our contract, and we want it now.”
The gaming union proposed a $500 salary increase in the first two years of the contract with an 8 percent increase within the remaining two years, according to 2nd Vice President of the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union Lloyd Cooper.
Both the hotel and gaming unions are affiliates of the umbrella National Congress of Trade Unions (NCTU).
Over the years, the Royal Oasis Resort and its casino have faced substantial industrial tensions and unrest.
Earlier this year, members of the hotel union staged a blockade of the property.
The Royal Oasis casino lost close to 40 workers due to the opening of Isle of Capri, many of whom had been employed with the casino for close to 20 years.
“Many workers took a $100 to $200 per week pay cut to work for Isle of Capri simply because of the working conditions at the Royal Oasis Casino,” Mr. Britton claimed.
Given the present wave of industrial disharmony in the country, he insisted that industrial action would be the union’s last resort.
But he warned that it could happen at any moment.
“We will do what we have to do,” Mr. Britton said. “We could invoke the rules of a strike which would include work-to-rule and go-slow.
“We are hoping though that we don’t even have to use [the strike certificate]. We are hoping that [management] would see some sense in cooperating with us and working with us as a partnership should be.”
Resort managers were unavailable to respond to the union’s threats.
A union meeting with employees of the casino was expected to take place this morning.
By Sharon Williams, The Nassau Guardian
