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September 5, 2017 Vancouver—Edgewater Casino food service workers received a notice this week that the company is reneging on a job security promise involved with its move this month. “Paragon Gaming’s word isn’t worth a quarter for slot machines,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Food service workers deserve to be treated fairly. Contracting out is a new low for Paragon Gaming and will hurt both patrons and workers.” Paragon Gaming is relocating Edgewater Casino to a new $600 million facility in late September. The company initially guaranteed Unifor members in food and beverage service a job with the non-union provider at the new site, U.S. firm Elizabeth Blau, but a letter sent out to Unifor Local 3000 members says something entirely different. The union says that the company’s solution—moving food service workers from the old site to jobs in gaming at the new site—is not viable because those jobs won’t last. Unifor says the last time Edgewater expanded, it overestimated gaming staff levels and new workers saw their shifts reduced dramatically. “These front-line workers have built strong ties with customers and have helped the Casino become a success. Yet, ‘loyalty’ is a word that does not seem to be in this employer’s vocabulary,” said Gavin Davies, Unifor National Representative. “Edgewater must do the right thing and ensure that no workers suffer a pay cut or a seniority cut as a result of the expansion.” For more information, please contact Unifor Communications Representative Ian Boyko at @email or 778-903-6549 (cell).
