Crown Melbourne casino workers held a public demonstration friday night outside the Melbourne Convention Centre in protest of overnight weekend wages paying equivalent rate as weekday night shifts.

The United Voice Casino Union has been negotiating with the casino for higher pay for employees who work 7 pm to 7 am on and Saturday friday. The union is seeking a $3 AUD ($2.31 USD) per hour surcharge for the graveyard shifts.

In addition, the union is also after a five per cent raise for all employees at all hours. Crown offered a 2.75 percent increase but the proposal was refused.

Crown Melbourne compromises two city blocks and it is the casino complex that is largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The resort is Victoria’s largest single employer with roughly 5,500 employees.

United Voice said of its protest, ‘ the casino has been told by us that we’re severe. Now it’s time to show them. Without us. as they think our company is already paid enough, we know they don’t really make record profits’

Sunday Warriors

For now, the union is going for a more approach that is civilized to walking off the job in strike. Some 200 protestors turned out along the promenade on Friday evening.

The group circled the casino chanting for greater wages and signs that are holding their demands.

As the five per cent all-encompassing raise is one (more…)