Nearly 900 employees at two major gaming properties east of Toronto are officially on the picket line.
Picket lines went up right after midnight on Friday, July 31, 2026. Members of Unifor Local 1090 walked off the job at Ajax Casino and the massive Pickering Casino Resort after contract talks with Great Canadian Entertainment completely fell apart.
If you plan on visiting either facility, expect delays. Both locations claim they remain open, but the human cost behind these entertainment complexes is currently taking center stage.
Who Is Actually On Strike
This isn't just about table game dealers. The bargaining unit is wall-to-wall.
The strike covers a wide swath of workers who keep these massive operations running day and night. We are talking about:
- Cashiers and coin room workers
- Slot technicians and attendants
- Table games dealers and gaming hosts
- Kitchen staff, cooks, dishwashers, and servers
- Hotel housekeepers and room attendants
- Bus drivers and shipping personnel
Unifor National President Lana Payne pointed out that these exact employees kept the resorts operational through volatile, difficult years. Now, they want stability. Wages and basic job security sit at the absolute core of this dispute.
A Broader Pattern of Labor Unrest
This strike doesn't happen in a vacuum. Ontario's gaming sector faces mounting workplace friction.
Just a week prior, Unifor Local 1090 security officers were locked out at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, formerly known as Casino Woodbine. That dispute remains unresolved. Back in 2022, roughly 2,000 Unifor members across eight different Ontario casinos voted to strike over pensions and benefits before reaching a last-minute settlement.
Corporate profits in the entertainment and gaming industry have bounced back hard post-pandemic. Workers notice the revenue numbers. They also notice the cost of living in the Durham Region skyrocketing. Inflation eats away at paychecks, and front-line staff feel the pinch while corporations pull in record guest counts.
What Management and the Union Say
Great Canadian Entertainment issued public statements noting that negotiations will continue behind the scenes. The company wants to reach a resolution to get staff back inside.
Meanwhile, union leadership remains firm. Picket lines outside the sprawling Durham Live property in Pickering are active. Workers are demanding contracts that reflect their daily contributions rather than corporate bottom lines.
Visitors might still get through the doors, but walking past a picket line changes the entire atmosphere of a night out.
Keep an eye on local updates if you have hotel bookings or event tickets at either venue over the coming days. This dispute could wrap up quickly if pressure mounts, or it could drag on like the Toronto lockout. Stay informed before you make the drive.
