Crown Casino’s sprawling riverside complex is the largest single-site workplace in Victoria. More than 5,000 games dealers, security, restaurant and hotel staff work at Australia’s biggest casino, which is majority owned by the Packer family. Last year, Crown Melbourne reported earnings of $662 million. 

A group of workers gathered outside the casino on 12 August to protest Crown’s refusal to pay its staff extra for working weekends and late nights. The union that represents casino workers, United Voice, says that most Crown staff work at least 40 weekends each year but get paid only a flat hourly rate.

The evening rally was the first public protest by casino workers in more than a decade. “Tonight there are hundreds of us, but we know we’re backed by thousands of workers here at the casino … we are stronger than ever and we have the public support”, said Zoe, a table games dealer, who addressed the crowd.

Speaking to Red Flag, Marg, who works in guest services, said she was fighting because Crown’s wage rates don’t recognise the hard work of its staff. “We work very odd hours, and I think that we deserve better rates than what we’re getting.” Like many others at the protest, Marg easily reeled off a list of family events that she has had to miss because of work. 

United Voice is currently negotiating with casino management for a new enterprise agreement to cover staff. The union is seeking an across the board wage increase along with a modest weekend and late night shift allowance of $3 an hour. 

The last time large numbers of Crown Casino staff struck over wages was in 2003, when 1,000 walked off the job. There is every reason to expect that workers will need to take industrial action again if they are to win their demands this time.