GAMING | Hundreds demand more benefits from SJM

A large group of casino workers rallied at the Friendship Square opposite the Grand Lisboa yesterday, demanding a salary adjustment and welfare increases.
Earlier, the Forefront of Macau Gaming (FMG) called on SJM’s casino staff to join the campaign. Protestors asked for salary adjustments, a bonus equal to two months’ salary, as well as other benefits, such as increased holidays and better health care.
FMG President Ieong Man Teng estimated that there were about 1,000 peolpe rallying in the heavy rain.
Protestors gathered around the stage where organizers stood, chanting: “Salary increase! 14 months salary!” They blew whistles in response when organizers energized the masses.
Due to the heavy rain yesterday during the scheduled time, the organizers decided to end the campaign sooner than planned. “But we will organize the protest again on August 23 (this Saturday),” Ieong said.
Last week, hundreds of SJM workers gathered at the gaming operator’s human resources office to demand a 10-percent salary hike and an improvement in their fringe benefits.
Ieong said there would be a demonstration joined by casino workers from all six gaming operators next Monday, August 25. “Our initial plan is to start from Tap Seac Square and finish at the Government’s Headquarters, but we need to further consider whether to pass casinos or not.” Ieong estimated the number of participants would be “several thousand.” He said the goal of the demonstration would be to demand basic welfare for casino workers, holiday arrangements, and a subsidy for typhoon weather. The group also expressed the wish that their requests be passed to Chief Executive candidate Chui Sai On: “We also hope the CE candidate will make and fulfill some promises before the election.”
He pointed out that the action of casino workers depends on the reaction from the operator: “The SJM group taking a cold response toward the staff’s demands will trigger more of its employees’ desire to take action on the street.”
Last week, SJM’s managing director Angela Leong responded to the previous protest by saying that communication between staff and management is strong. She mentioned that SJM took the lead in granting salary increases at the beginning of the year.
When approached by the Times yesterday evening, the SJM group said that no response to the rally would be available as yet, since the management needed to know the participants’ exact demands, and decisions wouldn’t be made before a management meeting.
However, an internal notice issued by SJM was spread on social media after the protest, claiming that the protest’s organizers do not belong to the group and thus are not representative of all SJM employees. The notice is signed by the chief executive officer, Ambrose So.
The internal statement made three points of declaration. “The organization that claims to negotiate with SJM and strive for benefits for workers is not employed by SJM; therefore it can’t represent all the SJM staff.” The statement said that the organizer is not qualified for dialogue. It is also stated that SJM values the relation between staff and employer, and an effective communication system has been set up to respond to “reasonable appeals” from employees on the subject of salary and benefits. SJM reiterates that the company is the first one to have adopted improvement measures in the industry, and the current conditions for employees are at the “reasonable level” that leads the industry.
SJM states that, while continuing to protect employees’ and the company’s benefits, it will take measures to prevent and resist activities that may harm the welfare of staff and the corporation, as well as social security.
The gaming operator is the third one to be targeted by FMG, following Sands China and Galaxy groups.

Grace Yu