Strike at Crown Melbourne Disrupts New Year’s Eve Celebrations

Workers at Crown Melbourne Protest for Fairer Pay on New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve, typically a time for celebration, turned into a moment of conflict at Crown Melbourne, an Australian casino operated by Crown Resorts. On this night, around 600 employees staged a strike to demand better wages and working conditions.

Details of the Strike and Underlying Issues

The strike took place from 10 pm on December 31 to 2 am on January 1, forcing Crown Resorts to replace striking employees with temporary staff. Although the disruption had minimal impact on casino guests, it shed light on ongoing tensions between the workforce and management. The workers, represented by the United Workers Union (UWU), include dealers, servers, and security personnel.

One major point of contention is the casino’s pay structure, particularly the lower salaries offered to newly hired staff under recent agreements. The UWU rejected the latest proposed contract, arguing that it inadequately compensates new employees. In response, Crown representatives defended their offer, claiming it provides wages approximately 40% higher than the industry average, and up to 60% more for certain positions.

Despite the union’s rejection, Crown management has expressed a willingness to continue negotiating towards a resolution.

Union Criticism and the Casino’s Financial Strategy

The most recent wage proposal involves modest annual increases for current employees—3.25%, 3%, and 3% over the next three years—but includes significantly reduced starting salaries for new hires. This approach reflects Crown Resorts’ broader cost-cutting measures, especially following its acquisition by investment firm Blackstone. The company aims to improve its financial standing after previous compliance issues with Australian regulators.

The UWU strongly opposes this model, which it describes as a “race to the bottom” in employment practices that jeopardizes experienced staff in favor of cheaper labor. Andrew Jones, director of UWU Casinos, criticized the plan as aligning with American-style employment strategies that clash with Australian values. The union highlighted that 87% of its members voted against the current offer, which ultimately prompted the strike action.