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Locked out OLG workers - members of Unifor working at Sudbury Downs, Casino Brantford and Woodbine Racetrack – along with supporters, effectively shut down the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto October 2, blocking all entrances to the popular gaming facility.
“We’re here to send a strong message to Premier Kathleen Wynne and the OLG to get back to the table and negotiate with our members,” said Bob Orr, Assistant to the Secretary-Treasurer of Unifor. “It can’t be business as usual when you’ve locked out the very workers who make these sites profitable, refusing to let them have a say in their retirement security.”
As part of OLG’s ‘modernization plan’, backed by the Wynne government, the retirement security of roughly 1,000 Unifor members is at risk. Under the plan, OLG workers are no longer eligible for their current pension plan, but the OLG refuses to negotiate terms of a new retirement plan and locked out its workers.
“Wynne claims to be a champion of retirement security, yet she and her government are turning a blind eye as their privatization scheme puts that very security at risk for OLG workers,” said Orr.
The workers were locked out September 19. An earlier rally was held on September 24.
“We’re seeing a lot of support from the public and once they hear what’s going on, most patrons are turning around,” said Joyce Boreman, locked out from OLG Casino Brantford.
“They hear the Premier talk about the importance of pensions, but then behind closed doors she’s taking them away.”
