The Ajax Pickering casino strike began early Friday after negotiations between Unifor Local 1090 and Great Canadian Gaming Corporation failed to produce a new collective agreement for nearly 900 employees. Union members at Casino Ajax and Pickering Casino Resort began picketing at 12:01 a.m. on July 31, 2026.
Unifor says the striking employees work across gaming, hospitality, hotel and support operations at both Durham Region properties. The bargaining unit includes cashiers, coin workers, slot attendants and technicians, table-game dealers and technicians, gaming hosts, player-service representatives, cooks, servers, dishwashers, housekeepers, room attendants, bus drivers, coat-check workers and shipping and receiving staff.
Union Seeks Wages and Job Security
The union says wages, working conditions and job security are among the main issues in the dispute. Unifor National President Lana Payne said members had made it clear they were prepared to remain on the picket line to pursue what they consider a fair agreement.
Negotiations continued in the days before the deadline, but the parties did not announce a settlement before strike action began. Unifor said the workers had helped keep the properties operating through difficult years and were seeking a contract that recognized their contribution.
The strike follows a separate labour dispute involving Unifor Local 1090 security officers at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. Those workers were locked out on July 23, and that dispute remained unresolved when the Ajax and Pickering strike began.
Both Durham Casinos Remain Open
Great Canadian Entertainment says Casino Ajax and Pickering Casino Resort remain open around the clock during the labour disruption. The company has warned, however, that access, amenities and operating hours may be affected.
At Casino Ajax, the Getaway Restaurant is temporarily operating from noon until 8 p.m. with a reduced menu. The company also says access to some property entrances may be temporarily affected.
Pickering Casino Resort remains open 24 hours a day, including its hotel and casino. Some services are operating on modified schedules. Table games are listed as available from noon until 4 a.m., while several restaurants and bars have reduced hours or temporary closures.
Visitors are being advised to review the company’s latest property updates before travelling because services and access arrangements may change while the strike continues.
Picket Lines Established in Ajax and Pickering
Picket lines were established at both casino properties on Friday morning. Unifor scheduled a media availability at the Pickering Casino Resort entrance later that day as union representatives and workers continued calling for a new agreement.
The dispute directly affects two major entertainment and hospitality employers in Durham Region. Casino Ajax and Pickering Casino Resort employ workers in a wide range of positions, meaning the labour action extends beyond gaming-floor operations to food service, hotel services, transportation and property support.
Neither Unifor nor Great Canadian Entertainment had announced a tentative agreement or confirmed return-to-work date in their latest available updates. The operator continues to list both properties as open while warning that some services may be modified.
The Ajax Pickering casino strike will continue until the parties reach an agreement or announce another resolution. Customers planning to visit either property should confirm the availability of specific restaurants, table games, entrances and other services before arriving.
