Contract negotiations with Woodbine Entertainment Group, which own and operate both tracks, are underway and set to conclude on Thursday April 20.
If a settlement is reached, the scheduled meeting will be for a ratification vote. If a Tentative Agreement is not reached, negotiations will be at an impasse and a strike vote will take place instead.
STRIKE / RATIFICATION VOTE MEETING
*** UPDATE *** TENATIVE DEAL REACHED!
“It’s important for us to get wage increases that keep up with the rising cost of living,” said Carol Tulloch-Eccelston, the Union Chief Steward. “However, the employer doesn’t seem to agree. What they’ve offered so far isn’t close to the inflation rate.” Tulloch-Eccelston works in the Woodbine Maintenance Department and has 21 years of service.
In addition to offering raises that will have workers fall behind, WEG is also threatening to limit their long-term disability benefits.
“Prices have skyrocketed since we last negotiated a contract,” said Tulloch-Eccleston. “I’d like to know how much Woodbine executives get paid, while we’re here struggling to stay afloat.” WEG executives’ compensation is not publicly available, even though the horseracing industry receives funding from the provincial government.
