Hundreds of workers at Crown Melbourne are reportedly preparing to strike on New Year's Eve in response to a proposed enterprise agreement that would see new employees paid significantly less than current staff for the same roles, according to The Guardian.
The strike, scheduled from 10pm until 2am local time, is expected to involve bar staff, table game dealers and security teams across the casino. Union officials say the walkout will cause delays during one of the busiest nights of the year.
Indeed, the United Workers Union said 89% of eligible employees had voted against Crown's proposed agreement. The plan would introduce a two-tier system in which new hires would receive AU$28.84 (US$19.40) per hour, compared with the AU$34.22 currently paid to existing employees. According to the union, this difference equates to annual reductions ranging from AU$10,600 to AU$32,000, depending on role and hours worked.
Andrew Jones, the union's casinos director, said workers felt ignored after months of negotiation. He warned that the proposed structure could undermine job security for current employees and set a precedent for further reductions.
Crown said it was disappointed by the planned strike but would work to minimise disruption to visitors. The company stated that Crown Melbourne employees earn on average about 40% above industry standards, with some roles reaching 60% above award base rates. It added that these rates would continue to rise under its latest offer. This latest update falls in the wake of an AU$100,000 fine for Crown Melbourne, issued by the VGCCC for an exclusion breach last month.
The company said families attending New Year's Eve events would be most affected by the action. Protected industrial action is also planned for Thursday morning, with further stoppages expected in the coming weeks. Crown Melbourne said negotiation meetings would continue in January.
Negotiations on Crown's main enterprise agreement have been ongoing since May
