The Casino Montreal strike represents a significant labor action involving multiple Quebec casinos operated by Loto-Québec. Workers from various unions demanded better working conditions, fair compensation, and improved health and safety measures.
The Casino Montreal strike period from 2022 to 2023 marked one of the most significant labor disputes in Quebec's gaming industry history. Multiple unions representing over 2,200 workers across four major casino locations engaged in strike actions that disrupted operations and highlighted critical issues in workplace conditions, compensation, and occupational health. The disputes involved complex negotiations between workers, union representatives, and Loto-Québec management, ultimately requiring government intervention to reach resolution.
Casino workers in Quebec initiated a series of strike actions beginning in May 2022, with the most extensive general strike commencing in June 2023. The labor disputes affected Casino de Montréal, Hôtel-Casino du Lac-Leamy, Casino de Mont-Tremblant, and Hôtel-Casino de Charlevoix. Two primary unions led the actions: CUPE representing 545 croupiers at Casino de Montréal, and CSN representing approximately 1,700 employees in security, housekeeping, food service, and slot attendant positions across all locations.
The strikes emerged from contract negotiations that stalled over fundamental disagreements about compensation increases, workplace health and safety provisions, and adequate recovery time for workers performing repetitive tasks. Workers argued that their demands reflected both the physical toll of casino work and the need to keep pace with inflation and cost of living increases, while Loto-Québec maintained that their offers were generous and consistent with agreements reached with other employee groups.
The first major strike action began on May 21, 2022, when 545 croupiers represented by CUPE at Casino de Montréal walked off the job. These workers had been without a contract since March 31, 2020, and negotiations had reached an impasse primarily over occupational health and safety concerns. The union adopted the theme "Misez sur notre santé" meaning "Bet on our health" to emphasize their core demand for adequate recovery time to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.
Strike pickets were established at the Casino de Montréal, and workers conducted demonstrations including a notable action on June 8, 2022, in front of Loto-Québec's head office. A larger demonstration followed on June 15, 2022, when several hundred striking croupiers gathered at the SAQ complex in east-end Montreal to draw attention to the costs of the labor conflict and call out the Quebec government's management of crown corporations.
On June 15, 2023, CSN-affiliated employees representing security agents, first cooks, slot attendants, and housekeepers declared a strike without warning across all four Quebec casinos. This action affected approximately 1,700 workers and created immediate operational challenges. Casino de Montréal, Casino de Charlevoix, and Casino du Lac-Leamy managed to maintain operations with limited services, while Casino de Mont-Tremblant was forced to shut down completely for several hours to reorganize operations.
The strike escalated on June 23, 2023, when casino workers voted at a general meeting to launch an unlimited general strike starting that Friday. This decision represented a significant escalation in the labor dispute and put maximum pressure on Loto-Québec management to reach a settlement.
The most critical issue for CUPE croupiers centered on occupational health and safety, particularly the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. Union data revealed that approximately 55 percent of Casino de Montréal croupiers had sustained musculoskeletal disorders during their careers, with tendinitis being especially common. The repetitive motions required in dealing cards, handling chips, and maintaining specific postures for extended periods created significant physical strain.
Workers demanded that management maintain allowances for adequate recovery time between shifts and during work periods. The union argued that without proper rest intervals, the risk of chronic injury increased substantially, affecting workers' long-term health and ability to perform their jobs effectively.
The CSN union demanded salary increases of 24 percent over three years for its members. This demand reflected concerns about keeping pace with inflation and the rising cost of living in Quebec. Workers pointed to Loto-Québec's reported increase in total revenues and the substantial bonuses and salary increases awarded to executives as evidence that the organization could afford fair compensation for frontline workers.
The Quebec gaming sector operates under unique conditions as a crown corporation, with Loto-Québec managing all casino operations. This structure creates distinct labor dynamics where government policy, public accountability, and worker rights intersect. The 2022-2023 strike period highlighted tensions between operational efficiency and employee welfare in a high-demand entertainment environment.
Casino workers face specific occupational challenges including musculoskeletal disorders, shift work demands, and high-pressure customer service environments. The strike actions demonstrated how these industry-specific concerns require specialized approaches to labor negotiations and workplace safety standards.
Union representatives expressed frustration that while management shared 650,000 dollars in bonuses, workers were being offered increases of only 2.5 percent annually. The disparity between executive compensation and worker wage offers became a focal point of union messaging and public demonstrations.
Shift premiums emerged as another priority for CSN members, according to Riccardo Scopelleti, president of the Casino de Montreal-CSN security workers' unit. Casino operations require 24-hour staffing across all days of the week, meaning workers regularly work nights, weekends, and holidays. The union argued that shift premiums needed to adequately compensate workers for the disruption to normal life patterns and the additional challenges of working non-standard hours.
Loto-Québec maintained throughout the disputes that it offered attractive working conditions and competitive compensation packages. Management emphasized that casino employees received comprehensive benefits including competitive salaries, incentive pay, various allowances, and a defined benefit pension plan. The organization argued that its monetary offers were generous and comprehensive, designed to meet challenges in attraction and retention while addressing the current economic situation.
According to Loto-Québec statements, agreements in principle on both normative and monetary components had been reached locally at the casinos in December 2022. Management expressed disappointment that unions chose to strike rather than remain at the negotiating table, particularly given what they characterized as two generous offers tabled over several months.
Loto-Québec also noted that the value of union demands more than doubled what had been agreed upon with other employee groups within the organization. Seven other collective agreements for employees in similar job categories were successfully renewed at the casinos in 2022, which management cited as evidence of their reasonable approach to negotiations.
The strikes created significant operational challenges across all affected casino locations. While Casino de Montréal, Casino de Charlevoix, and Casino du Lac-Leamy managed to maintain operations during the June 2023 strike, services were limited and customer experience was affected. Casino de Mont-Tremblant's temporary closure demonstrated the vulnerability of operations when key staff positions remained unfilled.
The Salon de jeux de Trois-Rivières and Salon de jeux de Québec remained open during the strikes as they were not directly affected by the union actions. Online gaming through lotoquebec.com continued to operate, though the call center was closed during strike periods, limiting customer support options.
From a financial perspective, union representatives argued that the strikes cost Loto-Québec more in lost profits than a new collective agreement would have generated in additional labor costs. CUPE representative Jean-Pierre Proulx drew comparisons to the SAQ warehouse employees' strike before Christmas, noting that SAQ management quickly recognized that being stubborn and losing substantial revenues made no economic sense.
The CSN strike reached resolution on September 26, 2023, when all CSN-affiliated staff accepted a recommendation brought forth by a Ministère du Travail conciliator. Loto-Québec announced that it was pleased to have reached a responsible agreement ending the strike, though specific details of the settlement were not immediately disclosed publicly.
The resolution came after more than three months of unlimited general strike action and represented a compromise facilitated by government mediation. Operations gradually resumed as the 1,700 CSN-affiliated employees returned to work over the following weeks. Loto-Québec directed customers to visit casino websites for updated information on operating hours and available services as locations returned to full capacity.
The settlement of the CUPE croupiers' strike, which had begun in May 2022, followed a separate negotiation track, though public information about the specific terms and timing of that resolution remains limited in available sources.
The Casino Montreal strike period highlighted several systemic issues within Quebec's gaming industry labor relations. The disputes demonstrated tensions inherent in crown corporation management, where political considerations, public accountability, and commercial viability intersect with worker rights and welfare.
Union representatives criticized what they perceived as a disconnect between private sector management approaches and crown corporation decision-making. The argument that private casino operators would have settled more quickly to avoid revenue losses raised questions about whether government ownership created different incentives in labor negotiations.
The strikes also brought attention to occupational health issues specific to casino work. The high rate of musculoskeletal disorders among croupiers and the physical demands of various casino positions highlighted the need for industry-specific health and safety standards and adequate recovery time provisions.
The Casino Montreal strike and related labor actions across Quebec casinos from 2022 to 2023 represented a significant chapter in the province's gaming industry labor relations. The disputes involved fundamental questions about fair compensation, workplace health and safety, and the balance between operational efficiency and worker welfare in a crown corporation context.
The eventual resolution through government conciliation demonstrated both the challenges of reaching agreement when positions are entrenched and the value of mediation in complex labor disputes. While specific settlement terms remained largely confidential, the fact that workers accepted the conciliator's recommendations suggests that meaningful progress was achieved on core issues.
The strikes serve as a reminder that even in established industries with unionized workforces and government oversight, ongoing attention to evolving workplace conditions, fair compensation, and occupational health remains essential for maintaining productive labor relations and ensuring quality employment in the gaming sector.
The CUPE croupiers' strike at Casino de Montréal began on May 21, 2022. A separate CSN strike involving security, housekeeping, and other workers started on June 15, 2023, escalating to an unlimited general strike on June 23, 2023.
The primary issues included occupational health and safety concerns, particularly adequate recovery time to prevent musculoskeletal disorders, wage increases to match inflation and cost of living, and improved shift premiums for workers on non-standard schedules.
Approximately 545 CUPE-affiliated croupiers struck at Casino de Montréal starting in May 2022. The CSN strike involved about 1,700 workers across security, housekeeping, food service, and slot attendant positions at four Quebec casinos.
Most casinos remained open with limited services during the strikes. Casino de Mont-Tremblant temporarily closed for several hours on June 15, 2023, to reorganize operations, but Casino de Montréal, Casino de Charlevoix, and Casino du Lac-Leamy maintained operations throughout.
The CSN strike was resolved on September 26, 2023, when workers accepted a recommendation from a Ministère du Travail conciliator. The resolution came after more than three months of unlimited general strike action.
According to union data, approximately 55 percent of Casino de Montréal croupiers sustained musculoskeletal disorders during their careers, with tendinitis being particularly common due to repetitive motions required in their work.
Organizations involved in Quebec gaming industry labor relations and worker representation.
Understanding the physical demands and health risks faced by casino workers, including prevention strategies for musculoskeletal disorders and workplace injury reduction.
Examining the unique dynamics of labor negotiations in government-owned enterprises and how public accountability affects collective bargaining outcomes.
All CSN-affiliated casino workers accepted conciliator recommendations, ending the three-month unlimited general strike across Quebec casinos.
Loto-Québec announced phased return to full operations as 1,700 workers return to their positions across four casino locations.
Casino workers voted for unlimited general strike citing executive bonuses of 650,000 dollars while frontline staff offered only 2.5 percent increases.