Casino staff raise stakes in Star pay row08 Jan 10 Laborstart Workers at Sydney's Star City casino will try to raise the stakes in their pay row by striking twice in the space of 14 hours. But casino bosses are refusing to back down and say they expect a full house despite the industrial action. Croupiers, security staff and bar staff will be among those to walk off the job at 8pm (AEDT) on Friday and again from noon on Saturday, the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union said on Friday, as its stoush with management rumbles on. But Star City spokesman Peter Grimshaw said customers would not notice any difference and a similar strike on New Year's Day coincided with record numbers at the venue. Mr Grimshaw said only five per cent of workers walked off the job on January 1. "The first strike was totally ineffectual and in fact it was a record day for us here," Mr Grimshaw told AAP on Friday. "Only five per cent walked off and customers didn't know anything different. It was business as usual and it will be again this time." The union said the first strike was a "huge success" and most rostered workers walked off the job. "Star City staff have shown they will stick together to win a fair wage offer that does not attack their conditions," the union's NSW president Jim Lloyd said in a statement. "Star City management needs to listen to its staff who have already twice knocked back unfair proposals put to them." The union has previously said members have been offered a two per cent pay rise. Mr Grimshaw said the venue had "put a very fair offer on the table including a nine per cent increase in wages over three years and increased allowances". |