Star City Casino strike New Year's Day - 31st December 2009

Staff at Sydney's Star City casino will walk off the job for one hour on New Year's Day as part of a continuing row over pay.

The Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) says workers will strike from 8pm until 9pm (AEDT) in a bid to secure a higher pay offer, but a Star City spokesman says the casino will operate as usual.

"Staff have been negotiating with Star City for a new enterprise agreement for more than eight months," LHMU NSW branch secretary Mark Boyd said in a statement on Thursday.

"Star City staff have decided to take one-hour strike action from New Year's Day because they are frustrated by the casino's unfair wage offer and management's refusal to listen to them."

But Star City spokesman Peter Grimshaw says only a small group of employees is expected to carry out the industrial action and the casino would operate as usual.

"Only 17 per cent of employees voted to strike so it will be business as usual at Star City," he said in a statement.

A LHMU spokeswoman told AAP on Thursday that further strikes could follow through January.

Star City staff have twice voted against previous pay offers made in September and December, the LHMU union said.

The union has previously said members have been offered a two per cent pay rise.

But Mr Grimshaw said the casino had "put a very fair offer on the table including a nine per cent increase in wages over three years and increased allowances".

"However, the union is trying to retain outdated work practices including loadings on sick leave," he said.

Mr Boyd said $575 million was being spent to renovate the venue, its top executives were paid $2.6 million and the casino's last quarter revenue was up 11.6 per cent. (Credit: Wires, Fairfax Media, Google News, LHMU, Media Man)

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