Caesars Windsor workers could strike as soon as next week, OLG continues work to select next operator

Better pay is the top priority in a new collective agreement for workers at Windsor, Ont.'s Caesars casino, their union says. 

Membership has given union leadership nearly unanimous support to go on strike if a deal is not reached by midnight on Wednesday. 

"Make no mistake, the monetary gains are probably a number one priority," said James Stewart, president of Unifor 444, which represents 1,400 members at the casino. 

"Our members are doing an incredible job. The casino's won a whole host of awards and they want to be recognized for that."

But a deal for members isn't the only negotiation underway. 

OLG says procurement for casino operator still underway

Right now Caesars Windsor is operating the casino under an agreement that's been extended multiple times by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

"OLG is currently conducting a competitive procurement process to select a highly qualified service provider to handle day-to-day operations of the Windsor Casino," said a spokesperson for OLG. 

When the deal was last extended into March 2026, OLG said they'd announce the winner this spring. 

"Caesars has raised it with us," Stewart said. "They don't know if they're going to be the vendor moving forward. They want to be there."

He said any collective agreement reached with Caesars will carry over to any new potential operator. 

A spokesperson for Caesars declined to comment on the procurement process, deferring to OLG. 

Membership prepared to strike

Workers overwhelmingly approved the current deal under a very different context three years ago.

Negotiations were supposed to start in 2021 but both sides agreed to extend the agreement because of theCOVID-19 pandemic that forced Caesars Windsor to be shut down or operate with capacity limits for two years. 

A deal was reached in April 2022, while nearly half of the membership was laid off because of the restrictions on public gatherings and live events. 

Stewart says his membership has been clear they're looking for wage increases to keep up with inflation and the higher cost of living.

The membership most recently went on strike in 2018 for 60 days after rejecting two tentative agreements with management, before ratifying the third with a 75 per cent approval rate. 

"Caesars [has] had a lot of challenges over the years," said Stewart.

"We've had some major strikes. These members have seen the picket line. I don't think there's anyone in the workplace that wants to be on strike.

"They want to keep working. They want to make a living."