COVID-19 has claimed more economic victims in Moose Jaw and this time it is the jobs of 80 workers at Casino Moose Jaw who have been issued layoff notices.
The layoffs in total between both Casino Moose Jaw and Casino Regina will effect 497 unionized employees and 52 first-line managers at both properties.
Although the workers will later be returning to their jobs, the layoffs are for an indefinite period.
The casinos were closed after operations on March 16th in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 by the provincial government, who owns both Casino Moose Jaw and Casino Regina.
A handful of employees of employees were not laid of at both casinos they are building maintenance and security personnel.
At the time of announcing the casinos closures, the province asked the Saskatchewan Indian and Gaming Authority (SIGA) to consider doing the same. In response SIGA closed their casinos temporarily for two weeks. The SIGA closures may be extended.
Paul Guillet with the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) said the approaching layoffs are a major blow for the employees.
“Oh dear — where to begin. No income to pay bills and wondering where to get the money to buy food. Absolutely everything horrible one can imagine if out of work,” Guillet when asked about the impact on employees by MJ Independent in an email interview on Sunday.
Although they are temporarily laid off employees will maintain their health benefits. Employees are allowed to use their vacation time and banked overtime hours accrued to soften the blow but are not being allowed to use any banked sick days by their employer.
The RWDSU represents casino workers in both casinos as well as custodial workers employed by Clean Brite Canada where six workers also face indefinite layoffs.
He said workers have not been at their jobs since Friday March 20th. After the casinos closed on March 16th the remainder of the week was spent on cleaning and shutdown procedures. The layoffs come into effect Friday April 3rd.
Guillet said the RWDSU will be fighting for proper pay in lieu of layoff notice the contract does not have a provision for what has just occurred. A grievance has been filed.
“No (there are not any special financial provisions) except for proper lay-off notice or pay which the Casinos are evading. Legal action has already been filed with the authorities,” Guillet wrote.
Asked if he had anything to add Guillet said although difficult perhaps the casinos given the profits they have made over the years could do more for its laid off employees.
“Perhaps it was too big an ‘ask’ that Casino workers be maintained on full salary for the duration of the closure but to completely disregard the Collective Bargaining Agreement is criminal. The Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation (SGC) has made millions of dollars in profit over the years thanks in no small part to the dedicated staff and the relations they have made with clients. Proper pay in lieu of layoff notice is the very least SGC could have done. Our members are wondering if Minister Christine Tell, who made this decision, will be forfeiting her ministerial pay. She certainly has a very reduced portfolio these days,” he responded.
In a statement to the Regina Leader-Post on Friday, the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation (SGC) said they were following the orders of the Chief Medical Officer of Saskatchewan and had no choice but to close and then layoff staff.
“Due to both casino properties being temporarily closed, and many gaming floor, Show Lounge and back-of-house staff and management no longer required, the corporation has made the difficult decision to temporarily lay off 549 permanent employees — 497 unionized and 52 non-unionized,” says the statement.
It notes the layoffs are temporary and were made under the public emergency provisions in the Saskatchewan Employment Act, the SGC told the Regina Leader-Post.
As part of its Economic Support Plan the provincial government announced on March 20th changes had been made to the Province’s Employment Act where employers did not have to provide pay in lieu of notice for layoffs totalling 12 weeks or less in a 16 week period. Employees laid off more than 12 weeks in a 16 week period would be considered terminated and entitled to pay in lieu of notice as set out in the Act.
In a April 27th memo to laid off employees — obtained by MJ Independent from a source other than the RWDSU and the SGC — Susan Flett, SGC President and CEO, wrote laying off employees was difficult.
“It is with a heavy heart that effective April 2, 2020 permanent employees of Casino Regina and Moose Jaw who are not required due to the temporary closure of our properties will be laid off,” Flett wrote.
Flett continued she had wished she could have related the information face-to-face but the unprecedented nature of COVID-19 made the layoffs a necessity.
She reiterated the layoffs are temporary in nature only. (See the first page of the memo).
The memo on its second page would also give valuable information on how employees could take advantage of financial and emotional support programs to weather the unemployment storm. (See the final page of the memo).
SGC nor the province could be contacted prior to publication.
-- This story first appeared on MJ Independent
