Canada’s Lotto 6/49 Launch in Quebec Postponed Due to Strike
The commencement of Canada’s Lotto 6/49 in Quebec has been put on hold due to an ongoing work stoppage by workers of Loto-Québec, the provincial lottery organization.
The labor action, started by the public sector union Syndicat des professionnelles et professionnels du gouvernement du Québec (SPGQ), comes after talks between the union and the government failed to produce an agreement.
Loto-Québec, in a statement on its online platform, condemned the “pressure tactics” used by the employees represented by the SPGQ.
Despite a preliminary agreement reached between union leaders and government negotiators on August 25th, the deal was turned down by SPGQ members in a vote.
Loto-Québec declared that they cannot assure a successful launch because of the strike, leading to the decision to hold off on the lottery’s rollout.
As a consequence, Lotto 6/49 operations will be halted after the September 10th drawing until further notice.
Beginning September 11th, Lotto 6/49 tickets will not be available for verification at retail locations or through the operator’s mobile application. Loto-Québec advised ticket holders in a statement to keep their tickets until the situation is resolved.
On September 7th, Lydia Matel, the Vice-President of SPGQ, penned a public letter highlighting the vital role of employees at the Quebec Lottery Corporation.
Matel underscored that the internal knowledge and skills of the Quebec Lottery Corporation are essential for guaranteeing public access to vital services. She also stressed that the Crown corporation cannot afford to lose its skilled workforce, as this would result in a substantial loss of revenue for the government.
“The expertise of its professional staff enables the Quebec Lottery Corporation to combat illicit gambling websites by offering the public high-quality, user-safe products. This redirects funds that would otherwise be funneled to organized crime into the hands of the state.”
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