Hundreds of Star Casino Brisbane workers went on strike on July 9 on one of the biggest nights of the year — the third and final State of Origin rugby league game.
As the game was played on televisions at the sports bar and across the casino floor, workers protested the company’s cuts to penalty rates. They said they are struggling to pay bills, since they are paid just above the minimum wage.
The United Workers Union (UWU) organised the strike to demand workers are paid the same as other casinos, such as at the Star casino in Gadigal Country/Sydney, where workers are paid $2 an hour more for doing the same job.
Workers in Brisbane also want to retain Sunday penalty rates, which the casino is trying to replace with a small bonus on Fridays and Saturdays.
The strike kicked off at 6pm, with union delegates chanting under the Queens Wharf Road bridge. Workers shared stories about their work conditions, while chanting, and marched to the front of the main George Street entrance.
At the Queens Wharf Road bridge they formed a picket line, blocking the workers’ entrance to attract more to join. After the chanting, they waited for the bosses to make a statement but nothing came. Unionists and their supporters then watched a projection of the State of Origin game under the Queens Wharf Bridge.
The 2025 Brisbane Champs Poker tournament, scheduled to start July 11, has been cancelled because of the strike. The tournament was scheduled to start the same day, with 18 events across 12 days. However, the 24-hour strike left the casino without enough workers.
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UWU delegate Kaine Kennedy, a member of Queensland Socialists, told Green Left: “I don’t think we will go ahead with the strike this Friday. We will have to discuss and decide given the poker tournament got cancelled.
“But I do think there is going to be huge action,” he added.
The Star Casino is trying to sell off its new building after recent financial and legal troubles.
The Star Entertainment Group share price was more than $5 in 2018. However, this has now crashed to less than 15 cents. COVID-19 lockdowns, flooding and an outbreak of mould in the building have contributed to this.
However, the company also was found to be involved in money laundering in Gadigal Country and its casino licenses in Queensland and NSW were suspended last year.
Chow Tai Fook Enterprise and Far East Consortium, the joint owners of the Brisbane building, were going to take full ownership of the property, while the Star kept the right to operate the casino. However, this deal fell through on July 7.
Responding to a question about whether strike action could put workers’ jobs at risk, Kennedy said it wasn't likely. “They talk a lot of crap. They said the last three deals in a row was the best that they could possibly do. When push comes to shove, they are able to find money, like they find money for bonuses for the top executives.
“Just this week, the deal with Chow Tai Fook, who was going to be buying the Star right [here] in the Brisbane precinct, fell through. They had to pay back $10 million, on three days notice, and they were able to find that $10 million. When they need to find the money, there is money to be found.
“I think they can find the money to pay us.”
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More photos are on the Green Left Facebook page here and here.