SkyCity casino workers wear flea collars
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 12:15 pmStaff at Auckland's SkyCity casino have resorted to wearing flea collars to keep them from being bitten by fleas while they work.
Despite the carpet and areas around the machines being cleaned regularly, the flea infestation on the casino floor has continued to be a problem, the New Zealand Herald reports.
Workers have been given cans of insect repellent to spray themselves before they start their shift, but some employees have gone so far as to attach flea collars around their ankles to prevent their legs from being bitten.
Unite Union national director Mike Treen said the problem was that the casino's management was unwilling to shut down the floor for enough time to have the carpets cleaned properly as they would lose too much money. "It's just about a 24-hour, seven-day business," Mr Treen told the Herald.
"They don't want to close the casino down even for a day."
The infestation issue was first flagged in 2007 when SkyCity management had a pest management programme put in place to deal with the fleas.
SkyCity said the floors were cleaned daily and were unaware of any complaints about insect bites.
Gald its Auckland's SkyCity and not ours.
Despite the carpet and areas around the machines being cleaned regularly, the flea infestation on the casino floor has continued to be a problem, the New Zealand Herald reports.
Workers have been given cans of insect repellent to spray themselves before they start their shift, but some employees have gone so far as to attach flea collars around their ankles to prevent their legs from being bitten.
Unite Union national director Mike Treen said the problem was that the casino's management was unwilling to shut down the floor for enough time to have the carpets cleaned properly as they would lose too much money. "It's just about a 24-hour, seven-day business," Mr Treen told the Herald.
"They don't want to close the casino down even for a day."
The infestation issue was first flagged in 2007 when SkyCity management had a pest management programme put in place to deal with the fleas.
SkyCity said the floors were cleaned daily and were unaware of any complaints about insect bites.
Gald its Auckland's SkyCity and not ours.
