The GMB union announced on Wednesday that members of staff at the Genting-operated Crockfords and The Colony Club in Mayfair casinos could go on strike.

The union revealed that 36 of its members working at the casinos will now vote in a consultative ballot to ask its central executive council to sanction and official strike ballot over the threat of sacking staff seeking talks before changes to work rosters and work locations are made.

It alleges that Genting announced changes to working hours and work locations of its door staff and car jockeys at the two properties last week, without any consultation with staff or GMB. According to the union, managers threatened staff with disciplinary action if they did not follow the new rotas and agreed to move to other locations.

"GMB members feel that as Genting refuses to communicate on the issue and continues to use intimidatory tactics to achieve their goal we have no choice but to ballot our members for industrial action," said Anna Meyer, GMB London region organiser. "GMB have continued to make every effort to try and resolve this matter as it is not averse to Genting making proposals for change. However, members expect that a proper consultation should have taken place in respect of the changes.

"It does not reflect well on Genting that they are refusing to communicate at all on this matter with the union officials and are instead pressing ahead with the changes and now suspending employees for failing to comply."

In a statement sent to InterGaming, Genting said: “The company has asked door staff at Crockfords and Colony to move, in full accordance with their existing terms and conditions of employment, to a combined rota. We have over many months since May this year, been discussing these changes and have sought to arrive at an acceptable position with the 22 staff affected by these new rotas, of which 10 have already accepted and are working in line with them. We have already made a number of changes to our proposals to take account of comments received."  

The union said it is seeking a consultation with Genting.