Crown employees are rallying outside the Melbourne casino on Friday over claims of job insecurity and demands for better pay.
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United Voice set up the 6pm protest after the union released a report saying 70 per cent of casino workers on the enterprise bargaining agreement are in part-time or casual work.
Of the 612 part-time and casual staff surveyed by United Voice, 72 per cent said their hours were not enough to make ends meet and 45 per cent have a second job to get by.
"It's really hard to get a secure job at Crown," casino dealer Mary Sok said in a statement.
"I've worked there for over nine years and I'm still on part time."
A Crown spokeswoman said the casino had been named Australian Employer of the Year in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
"Crown is proud to have over 7400 people working at Crown Melbourne and over 8500 apprentices and trainees have graduated from our purpose-built training college," she said.
"Approximately 83 per cent of our workforce are employed on a permanent full-time or part-time basis.
"Like many other employers in the hospitality industry, we provide a flexible workplace which caters to thousands of staff who prefer to work on a part-time or casual basis as it gives them the flexibility to pursue other work, study or family opportunities."
She said where staff want to work extra hours, Crown strives to provide them.
"Existing part-time and casual staff also have the opportunity to apply for many of the regularly advertised vacant full-time roles across the business," she said.
Another rally with members of an African-Australian community, who planned to protest over allegations of racial discrimination, was cancelled.
"Crown Melbourne has over 50,000 visits every day and our guests are from very diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds," the spokeswoman said.
"Diversity is embedded in our DNA and our staff and guests genuinely reflect the communities in which we operate."
Crown has come under scrutiny in recent months over allegations of money laundering, drug dealing, organised crime and rigged machines at the Southbank casino.
NBA star Ben Simmons also accused a Crown security guard of rejecting his entry because of his race, before he was eventually let through by a different guard.
Australian Associated Press
