SFWU strike at Casino

Service and Food Workers Members at Hamilton’s Sky city Casino went on strike last Friday after rejecting a two per cent offer from the gambling chain which included a management claim "flexitime" - a roster system that would see workers’ hours fluctuating dramatically from week to week.

"Work-life balance is a huge issue, the company demands flexibility without caring what the impact is on peoples lives," says Nga Ringa Tota Northern Region secretary Lisa Eldret.

The other major concern around the offer, aside from its meanness, is that it further widens the wage gap between Auckland and Hamilton Sky City workers: a concern heightened by the fact the company brought in strike-breakers from Auckland on Auckland rates during the action.

"SkyCity Hamilton has caused millions of dollars to be drained out of the Waikato economy and has returned nothing but a handful of low-wage jobs. These workers have been the engine driving SkyCity Hamilton’s rapid growth and huge profits -it’s time they and their community got a little back from this company," says Eldret