News

 Over 40 members from 13 affiliated unions representing casinos, betting shops, bingo and lottery employees in 10 countries met in Lille (France) on November 3-4, 2016.

UNI Europa Regional Secretary Oliver Roethig, addressing the meeting, recognised the challenges the sector was facing because of the economic crisis and digitalisation and stressed the importance of cross-sectoral co-operation in the changing European gambling and leisure market. He also stressed the need of organising (especially in CE Europe) and union growth, building alliances in multinational companies and bargaining collexctively for quality jobs.

European unionists had a possibility to hear about the French gambling market from the representatives of three key companies - Mr. André Decoutere, Groupe Lucien Barrière, Ari Sebag, Casinos Modernes de France and Benjamin Castaldo from Groupe Partouche. A question on the possibilities to start discussions on a global agreement was raised.

Participants also heard from Paloma Lopez, MEP who presented the work done on the European level and noted the lack of attention for the gaming workers in the EU legal framework where the key concerns were provention of money laundering, protections of minors and not workers' rights.

Amel Djemail (UNI Europa Sports Policy Officer) talked about the sectoral social dialogues and integrity in sports and the problem of match fixing inviting UNI Europa gaming affiliates to work together promoting decent sports betting.

Participants discussed night work, European social dialogue, changes in the sector and employment conditions agreeing on the workplan based on three key topics - growing union power, growing bargaining power and growing quality jobs.

Documents from the meeting can be found here:

http://tinyurl.com/q855agl