Front-line casino staff at Sociedade de Jogos De Macau are threatening to strike during the busy Golden Week holiday in an escalating dispute over salary and working conditions at the company founded by gaming magnate Stanley Ho.
On Saturday, hundreds of SJM workers clad in black T-shirts marched to the company’s flagship Grand Lisboa and the neighboring Hotel Lisboa to demand negotiations with management on pay raises, bonuses and changes in promotion and tip policies. The demonstration was led by prominent labor group Forefront of Macau Gaming, which wants government representatives involved in three-way talks with the company.
“If the SJM bosses do not respond to our request [for a tri-party meeting], we will consider going on strike during Golden Week,” Cloee Chao, secretary-general of FMG, told the city’s English-language Business Daily. “We’re not even asking them to answer all the workers’ demands, but at least they should talk with them first.”
The weekend march was the latest in a series of public protests targeting SJM. On 30th August, Forefront staged a work slowdown and sick-out by croupiers at Grand Lisboa in which hundreds were reported to have participated. The group also has led protests against Sands China and Galaxy Entertainment Group.
MGM China this week became the latest operator to find itself in FMG’s cross-hairs. The group was slated to meet Monday with Labour Affairs Bureau officials to present its demands for a 10% pay raise and changes in tip policy at the company’s MGM Macau hotel casino.
Ventilators installed at the casino’s table games are reported to be another sore point. Designed to reduce the effects of second-hand smoke, the devices are causing dealers physical discomfort, the group said.
