United Workers Union opposes Crown Resorts’ mandatory Covid jab plan for staff and visitors.

Union representing Crown staff opposes plan to mandate Covid vaccinations, saying it should be left to government.

Crown Resorts chief executive officer Steve McCann said the major hospitality employer would urgently consult employees and stakeholders about introducing mandatory vaccination policy for staff and visitors. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Crosling

A union representing many of Crown Resorts’ 20,000 workers has hit back at the James Packer-backed group’s plan to explore a mandatory jab policy for staff and customers at its three-casino hotels, saying only governments should be able to mandate vaccines.

It’s the latest salvo in an ongoing industrial relations battle between unions and employers over mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations, a policy which is growing in appeal as ongoing east-coast lockdowns continue to damage the economy.

On Tuesday United Workers Union casino director Dario Mujkic said that although he supported workplace vaccinations, the announcement of the tentative mandatory jab plan would cause “unnecessary angst” for casino workers.

“The vaccine rollout has been bungled from the start, not just through the lack of availability and access but through confusing and mixed messaging from all layers of Government,” he said.

“The announcement that Crown will mandate vaccines will cause unnecessary angst among casino workers, who, like the general public, have been subject to confusing messaging and disinformation campaigns.

“Vaccine mandates should be directed by elected Governments based on expert health advice and should not be at the discretion of corporations, whether that be Crown or anyone else.”

It comes after Crown Resorts chief executive officer and former Lendlease boss Steve McCann on Monday said the group would consult employees and stakeholders about introducing mandatory vaccination policy for staff and visitors.

Mr McCann said the move was prompted after two thirds of Crown workers who participated in a survey last week said they supported the notion of mandatory vaccination within the hospitality sector, fuelling a desire to consult more regarding a “mandatory approach.”

“At Crown, we care about creating a safe environment for our people and our customers,” he said. “As such a significant hospitality employer in Australia with resorts that hosted over 30 million visits a year pre-Covid-19, we need to take measures to help keep people safe.

“That starts with our employees but also extends to our guests and the broader community.

“This is about protecting every Australian – we want to create a safe environment for people to come to work, and also for our guests to come to enjoy themselves.”

Mr McCann said while the company had been urging its employees to get vaccinated, it was time for the company to take a “more proactive stance”.

While 60 per cent of the workers surveyed said they had been fully vaccinated or received one jab, the majority of unvaccinated employees said paid leave would be the biggest incentive to get a vaccine.

As of last week, Crown Resorts employees are entitled to three hours paid leave for each vaccination they receive. An extra day of paid sick leave will be provided to all employees for each vaccination, if needed.

Employees that are vaccinated or are currently stood- down due to closures would receive a $50 gift voucher.

Mr McCann said higher vaccination rates were a must, with Covid-19 devastating the hospitality industry.

“Supporting the vaccination target rates set by governments is going to help our industry reopen, stay open and recover faster so we will play our part to help our industry get there,” he said.

“We will continue to explore ways to make it faster and easier for our people to come back to work.”

Mr Mujkic said the United Workers Union strongly supported vaccinations and was encouraging its members to get the jab.

“The vast majority of workers we represent want to get vaccinated, but many have been unable to do so,” he said.

“The Union Workers Union supports vaccinations. The only way out of this COVID-19 pandemic is through vaccination uptake. We have been telling our members that getting vaccinated should be a priority so that we can protect each other and our families and communities.”

He also said that he hoped Crown’s consultation policy would listen to worker concerns.

“We expect Crown staff to have a real say on what this policy looks like through legitimate consultation with workers, the union and elected health and safety representatives,” he said.