Vegas visitors help on casino conditions
Union officials toured the UK last week campaigning for decent working conditions for the thousands of people who will be employed by Britain's expected boom in casino resorts.
Their campaign preceded the Government's decision earlier this week to approve a bill to deregulate the UK's gaming laws. Joining the representatives from the GMB union were members of UniteHere, the union for casino workers in the USA.
The US delegation, consisting of Las Vegas casino employees and officials, visited towns and cities where the gambling resorts are likely to be built, such as Sheffield, Glasgow and Blackpool.
The US delegates told MPs and members of the public of the poor conditions they endure in such large-scale casinos. In Las Vegas, many workers are badly paid and don't receive routine benefits such as holiday pay.
Rose Conroy, a spokesman for the GMB, said: "Our concern is for the people who will work at these large casinos in the UK. We want them to receive proper rates of pay, proper pensions and proper sick pay, unlike the workers in Las Vegas."
- Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell told Labour MPs earlier in the week that the Government will cap the number of super-casinos to be built in the UK at just eight. As Caterer went to press, the Gambling Bill was due to be scrutinised by a committee of MPs, when the limit was expected to be confirmed.
