With hours to go before the strike deadline at Caesars Windsor, members of Unifor Local 444 are making strike signs in case workers walk off the job just after midnight.
Although Manny Cardoso said talks with management at the casino have progressed, he admitted there are still some outstanding issues.
"Obviously, the workers want to get a good push on their wages," said Cardoso, Unifor Local 444's secretary-treasurer and member of the bargaining team. "They feel that they've been left behind compared to other industries, and they're looking for their due."
The last time the workers went on strike was in 2018. They were off the job for six weeks.
Cardoso is cautiously optimistic that won't happen this time. He stressed there's still time to reach an agreement with Caesars.
"They are still quite a ways apart. We just want to make sure we're prepared, in case we can't come to an agreement, but things change very quickly in bargaining," he said.
In the meantime, Cardoso is telling Caesars workers to check back with the union for updates.
The strike deadline is 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.
