At the last moment, as predicted, the French Unions have called off the strike due to take place on New Year’s Eve. Representing some 17,000 casino workers, four of the five unions concerned have agreed terms with the employers. The fifth union is to put the settlement before their members for approval.

Apart from a pay rise of between three and four percent, the employers have agreed to hold talks early next year with regards to union demands for night work compensation. They are asking for an extra six days off a year for casino staff.

New Year’s Eve strike still on

RESISTANCE TO FRENCH UNION DEMANDS

There are around 17,000 casino workers employed at France’s 186 casinos and they have threatened to strike on New Year’s Eve if their demands for better pay and conditions are not met. The New Year in France, as in most countries, is one of the most profitable dates in the casino calendar.

As slot machines become increasingly popular, tables’ revenues decline. Slots players are much less likely to tip and the machines are keeping gamblers away from the more traditional table games. Slots revenue has come to account for most of a casino operator’s profits but for a decline in the take-home pay of gaming staff. In compensation for night work, employees are also demanding six extra days off a year.

There are now two main operators of French casinos – Partouche and Barrière-Accor. So far they have resisted their employees’ demands but, if a compromise is not reached in time, it seems that both casino staff and casino operators will be out of pocket this weekend. If the casinos remain closed, there will be no profits or tips at a time when traditionally both are much higher than average.

Casinos are taxed at 57% of their profits, and this is set to increase again in 2005. Employee costs have already risen considerably with the introduction of the 35-hour week four years ago. There is also more competition for gambling euros from the state-owned lotteries and scratch cards. Revenue growth potential is not looking good for the casino operators at present, accounting for their resistance to the union demands.

A last minute compromise may still be a possibility but time is fast running out. Patrons of French casinos must already be making alternative arrangements for seeing in the New Year so, even if open, the casinos may see their usual crowd of merrymakers being rather thin on the ground.

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