Go Ad Free

If you’re planning on visiting the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto (formerly Woodbine Casino) to play blackjack, or to play the ponies at the adjacent racetrack, you'd better factor in some extra time. A lot of extra time.

This isn’t due to Toronto's notorious traffic. Rather, casino security guards, part of the Unifor union, have been on strike there since late July. They've decided to take out their frustrations on members of the public — those very same people who are the reason these guards have jobs in the first place.

The picketers are blockading all the entrances to the casino, causing enormous delays, sometimes more than two hours long.

A miffed casino patron reached out to Rebel News, complaining that the picketers have made no accommodation for disabled people. However, the picketers we spoke with dispute this claim.

But the question arises: is it legal to picket people in such a fashion? Well, yes and no.

The Toronto Police state that an example of lawful picketing includes “brief, reasonable delays to speak to drivers or pedestrians.”

But as always, the devil is in the details. In this case, what is the definition of “brief”? Alas, no definition is provided.

The police also noted that unlawful conduct includes “stopping vehicles for an unreasonable amount of time.”

But again, what exactly is considered to be an “unreasonable amount of time”? And again, no definition is provided.

Picketers told Rebel News their strategy is all about consumers voicing their concerns to casino management so that both sides can get back to the bargaining table. One picketer claimed casino revenues have plunged by about 50% since the work action began; Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto did not respond to an email from Rebel News.

In the meantime, anger is simmering at this casino. And it has nothing to do with losses endured at the roulette wheel…