Star workers walk off job in another blow for Brisbane casino
The horror run for Brisbane’s embattled Star Entertainment Group continues, with hundreds of its employees walking off the job during the peak of post-work Friday drinks.
United Workers Union confirmed on Friday that members employed by Star Casino would take protected industrial action for the first time, striking from 4pm until 6pm.
The strike will involve staff from the gaming floor, Star-owned restaurants and bars, including Sky Deck, and the housekeeping team.
Star Brisbane casino workers have walked off the job on Friday.Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt
UWU national president Jo Schofield said workers were taking a stand against “an insulting offer from the company” that did not account for current cost-of-living pressures.
“There’s a 4 per cent pay offer [over three years] on the table, but that comes along with cuts to penalty rates on Sunday,” she said.
The flyer handed out at the strike on Friday. Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt
Schofield added that during the last 18 months, staff had continued to show up to work, at times without the guarantee they would be paid at the end of the week.
“While workers kept the place going in the dark days earlier this year, the shiny suits at Star Brisbane Casino blundered from disaster to disaster.
“Now they’re failing to respect the importance of Star Brisbane workers who have kept the place running through crisis after crisis.”
A spokesperson for Star said the group had been in “long and challenging EA negotiations with unions” and was “doing everything possible to secure a stable financial future that will provide security for its workers, customers, suppliers, investors, and other stakeholders”.
“We are disappointed that Protected Industrial Action will be taken – as this action impacts all visitors that arrive at The Star Brisbane seeking memorable hospitality experiences.”
Star Brisbane employs just under 2000 workers. Bartender Kaine Kennedy said the vast majority were barely earning above minimum wage.
“I get paid about 60 cents above minimum wage. If I was doing literally the exact same job at the Star Sydney, I’d be getting almost $2 an hour or more than I currently get.”
Union members said they had been told by management that the current offer reflects Star’s financial limits.
Kennedy said money had been found to support other parts of the business, and reiterated the importance of customer-facing roles.
Star bartender Kaine Kennedy says his rate is only 60 cents above minimum wage. Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt
“For bartenders, you can go and work at other bars in the city and get paid more than to work at an almost $4 billion new integrated resort.”
Speaking on the Sunshine Coast on Friday morning, Premier David Crisafulli said he was “very, very” concerned about the state of Star’s operations, and his priority was the workforce.
“I really am not fazed as to what happens in the boardrooms with the corporate suits about Star, but I am really concerned about the workers,” he said.
“They have every right to be able to speak up, because our going-in position is the workers shouldn’t be impacted because of bad decisions made in boardrooms.”
Star has faced ongoing financial struggles since its staged opening last year.
While efforts to keep the $4 billion dollar precinct afloat have progressed, equity partners Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium on Monday threatened to walk away from the deal to buy out Star’s interests.
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