Over New Years Eve weekend workers acting for fairness and job security took protected industrial action in protest of Melbourne’s Crown Casinos’ refusal to discuss their dodgy pay cuts and two-tier wage system offer.
Supported by the United Workers Union (UWU), workers took industrial action on three separate occasions across the weekend. It’s the first time that workers at the casino have protested on New Years Eve.
Union members have been trying to negotiate with Crown Casino since May 2025 over two separate workplace agreements.
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The Crown Melbourne Limited Enterprise Agreement that covers around 4,500 workers, and
- The Surveillance and Management Enterprise Agreement that around 600 workers.
As one of the biggest hospitality companies in Victoria with over 11 500 employees, a significant number of Victorian jobs are impacted by the gambling giant's decisions.
Pay cuts and unfair conditions at the heart of the strike
One of the biggest issues for workers is the casino’s insistence on structural changes heavily weighted against the employee, creating job insecurity and unfair conditions at work.
According to the union,
“Our members are thinking about the long term, and they are thinking about the future they want for the people responsible for the success of Australia’s largest single-site entertainment venue.”
Rebranded as reform, Crown’s new dodgy deal would weaken pay relativities and dilute hard fought for working conditions.
“This is a pay cut for people doing the same job…Crown is owned by Blackstone, one of the world’s largest private equity firms. This dispute could be resolved immediately if Crown abandoned its two-tier wage proposal.”
Significantly impacting part-time and casual workers, the unfair offer was voted down by 87% of Crown’s workforce in mid-December. It would see new workers handed a pay cut of between $10, 600 and $32, 000 (16% to 32%) annually.
“US-style race-to-the-bottom industrial relations policies are against the Australian way of life.”
Under Crown’s proposal, from 1 July 2026 a new-hire Level 1 casino worker would be paid $28.84 an hour, while a continuing worker on the same level would be paid $34.22 an hour. 89% of the casino’s employees participated in the vote.
The offer has raised questions about potential favour given to new employees who are paid less than current hires.
As UWU Casino Director Andrew Jones said,
“The ball is firmly in Crown’s court. If the company comes back to the table with a fair proposal, this dispute does not need to escalate.”
United Workers Union remains ready to bargain and has repeatedly advised Crown that industrial action is avoidable.
Join your union
In August 2025 in New South Wales workers at Crown Casino took industrial action for the first time since 2009 to protest Blackstone’s current offer under negotiation.
In Sydney workers are being paid just 7 cents above award wage or $7.94 less than their Melbourne colleagues.
Workers at Crown Casino want a fair deal. Members stand united in the fight against injustice.