Coronavirus: 20,000 casino staff latest to run out of luck

More than 20,000 casino employees across the nation will be without work within days due to coronavirus shutdowns.

A security guard patrols in front of a closed entrance outside Crown Casino in Melbourne on Monday. Picture: AAP

More than 20,000 casino employees across the nation will be without work within days due to coronavirus shutdowns.

Among the industry’s worst-hit sites will be Crown on the banks of Melbourne’s Yarra River, where thousands of job cuts are looming.

United Workers Union casinos director Dario Mujkic told The Australian thousands of workers at casinos across the country have already lost all work and many more will follow.

“In total that’s potentially around 8000 Crown Melbourne workers affected and more than 20,000 nationally across all casinos,” he said. “United Workers Union is continuing to negotiate with Crown to provide workers an ongoing source of income to help them get through this crisis.

“Right now our focus is to ­secure at least two weeks’ pay for every worker, including casuals, to provide some immediate assistance and give everyone time to plan next steps.”

A Crown source on Tuesday night conceded the union’s job loss estimates were accurate, but said employees were being stood down, and the casino group hoped to re-employ them when the economy recovered. Affected workers include table games dealers, gaming machine attendants, bar ­attendants, kitchen staff, other food and beverage workers, cleaners and security guards.

The union said Federal Group has agreed to maintaining every permanent worker at Wrest Point and Country Club casinos on pay until at least Sunday.

“We are asking all casino operators to provide all workers with an initial two weeks’ full pay, because that is what people need to make decisions and plan next steps,” it said.

The James Packer-controlled Crown Resorts is negotiating with the Victorian and West Australian governments to offer its luxury ­hotels in Melbourne and Perth as potential accommodation to assist with the COVID-19 crisis.

Under the discussions taking place, Crown Towers, Crown Promenade and Crown Metropol in Melbourne, as well as Crown Promenade in Perth could be used to quarantine patients with mild cases, as well as those suspected of having the virus.

It comes as Crown, led by chief executive Ken Barton, undertakes an overhaul of operations to shore up the $3bn-a-year gaming and hospitality group against the ­financial impact of the pandemic.

Crown is the largest single-site private-sector employer in ­Victoria and WA, with approximately 18,500 staff across resorts in more than 700 different roles.

About 12,500 people work at Crown Melbourne, with a significant number expected to be affected by the decision this week to suspend gaming, food and beverage, and conference operations.

Negotiations with unions and staff are continuing on the number to be stood down.

On Monday Mr Barton and Australian resorts boss Barry Felstead told Crown staff they would continue to be paid as per their roster until advised otherwise.

“It is not clear how long this ban will last but first and foremost we want to make sure that when it’s over we will be able to return our business to the same standard of customer service as we have ­always prided ourselves on,’’ they said in a message to workers.

“There will be some roles that will continue as normal until further notice and relevant staff will be advised of this. We will be in contact with all staff in the coming days around what support and ­assistance is available.”

They said unless advised otherwise, staff were not required to attend work on Tuesday.

Crown, 35 per cent controlled by Mr Packer and chaired by former Howard government minister Helen Coonan, also said its hotel facilities would be provided at “reduced capacity”, without giving further specifics. A spokeswoman confirmed talks were under way on how Crown could help as the number of cases continued to rise.