Fired Casino N.B. waitresses claim discrimination
Casino official denies women fired over their appearance
CBC News
Posted: Feb 7, 2012 11:46 AM AT
Last Updated: Feb 7, 2012 3:13 PM AT
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Seven former waitresses at Casino New Brunswick are claiming discrimination after being fired without warning.
The women, who range in age from their early 20s to their 40s, are filing a complaint with the province’s human rights commission.
“It's nothing besides the look,” said Natasha Flanagan, 23, who has worked at the casino part-time for a year and a half.
Natasha Flanagan says new management wants to turn the casino into a Vegas style-casino where cocktail waitresses wear revealing outfits. (CBC)“New management from Vegas came in and they're trying to turn the casino into a Vegas style-casino,” she said.
“They want the cocktail waitresses to wear very revealing outfits, high heels, and not all of us fit that profile. So what they decided to do was terminate us all.
“That's not fair, it's so wrong,” said Flanagan, noting some of the women are also considering taking legal action against the casino.
No uniform changes, says GM
Casino New Brunswick officials say they can't comment directly on any personnel issues.
In an emailed statement, assistant general manager Craig DeMarta said "any allegations that employees were ever released for anything other than business or performance decisions is completely false.
"Casino New Brunswick has not made a change to uniforms at the facility," said DeMarta. "When we do make changes like this we review our plans with staff for their feedback. We continually look at all aspects of our operations, including uniforms for our front-line staff," he said.
“Casino New Brunswick is an entertainment facility and our clients expect and deserve a high level of service. That is what we strive to provide every single day to the people of New Brunswick and all our visitors," he added.
Six of the women said they were terminated last Friday, and a seventh two weeks ago.
DeMarta said four employees were "released" last week.
Many of the fired waitresses have worked at the Moncton casino since it opened nearly two years ago.
“We all received a letter,” said another woman who was fired. “In the letter, the statement says our skills and work style do not match the environment envisioned, calling it a reorganization.
“So my question to the casino is what changes are being implemented? What other skills would have to be developed? Why were those new skills not requested to be performed before the decision to terminate us all?”
Replacements have already been hired, the women said.
The fired waitresses went to the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission office in Dieppe on Monday and have started the process of filing a written complaint.
The $90-million gaming complex gets an estimated 600,000 visitors annually.
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