Casino Staff Fury at Pay Rise Deferral

A union leader has described a pay freeze for Plymouth casino workers as a „kick in the teeth“.

Staff at the Stanley Casino in Union Street are said to be „angry and frustrated“ at the deferral of any pay rise this year by the managers of the leisure giant Genting Stanley.

Gary Smith, of the GMB union, said: „It is a kick in the real teeth and customer relations will be affected as morale is so low.

„To have a zero per cent offer is absolutely derisory in the current economic climate, when members are facing huge increase in fuel and food prices.“

Genting Stanley managers said the usual May pay award would be deferred at least until next year for employees at its Stanley, Circus, Maxims and Mint Casinos.

GMB is angry that the Malaysian- owned company is investing GBP 600 million in its Asian operations and up to GBP 90 million at the Birmingham NEC.

The company claims that the impact of higher taxation, the smoking ban and rules which have forced the removal of certain gaming machines have hit profits so badly that a pay award before 2009 is unlikely.

Talks will resume in October, and industrial action has not been ruled out.