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A lengthy labour dispute between the government’s gaming agency and 124 employees at Rideau Carleton Raceway OLG Slots will come to a head as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday with the workers being locked out.

The gaming floor employees, members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, have been in a contract dispute with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation since early 2014, when negotiations for a new contract began.

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“We find it very unfortunate that rather than try to reach a reasonable settlement at the bargaining table, the Slots has chosen to lock out its own workers,” said Doug Marshall, president of the Union of National Employees, a component of the PSAC. “I also find it hard to understand how an organization that generated $2 billion in net profit during the last fiscal year can’t find enough money to give its workers a raise.”

Not surprisingly, OLG management has a different perspective on the dispute. “OLG had no intention of locking out employees before or during the Christmas season,” said OLG spokesman Tony Bitonti, and is willing to return to the bargaining table. “We remain hopeful that outstanding issues will be resolved as soon as possible.”