Summary:
- A total of 99% of employees voted to strike.
- MGM Grand Detroit, Hollywood, and MotorCity Casinos must sign deals.
- Negotiations began in September with four different unions.
Employees across the United States are standing up for themselves and agreeing to strikes to make big companies take notice. The latest news of a pending strike comes from Detroit, Michigan.
Casino union workers in Detroit have voted, with 99% stating they will strike if an agreement is not reached by October 16.
Make a Deal Now
Teamsters Local 1038, UNITE HERE Local 24, International Union of Operating Engineers, United Auto Workers Local 7777, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters should all have new agreements with local casinos. In September, negotiations began with MGM Grand Detroit, Hollywood Casino at Greektown, and MotorCity Casino.
These negotiations have not moved forward, and now the unions representing over 3,500 individuals are taking action. The employees would like their new contracts to include wage increases, security in retirement, and protection against technology implementation.
Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien commented that the authorization to strike sends a clear message to the casino ‘cartel’ in Detroit that members are the ones who created the massive profits for them. The employees feel it’s time for the operators to share their wealth.
Teamsters and labor unions are united and want to receive a contract to reward them for their hard work, or labor will be withheld.
Return the Favor From COVID-19 Operations
The employees want to see better wages and protections from their employers and feel it should be provided willingly. Back when the COVID-19 shutdowns took place, employees of Detroit casinos agreed to no raises and took on heavy workloads to help the industry get back on its feet.
After the restrictions were lifted and online gaming came into play, industry revenues reached all-time highs. By 2022, the casinos in Detroit had generated over $2 billion in revenues; even more is expected this year.
Employees feel that now it’s time for the operators to share the wealth, especially since they played a role in getting the casinos to this point. MGM Resorts has already reported all-time record-breaking earnings for the second quarter of this year.
Union members in Detroit work in all areas of the gaming industry, including food and beverage, housekeeping, retail outlets, slots, table games, and engineering. The casinos will most likely cut a deal before the October 16 deadline, or they might see a huge shutdown as all employees head off to strike.
Other Casino Strike Pending
Detroit is not the only city at risk of a strike. Las Vegas employees also threaten to strike if new deals are not struck with operators like Caesars Entertainment, MGM and Wynn Resorts. A deadline has not been set for this strike, but we know that employees voted in approval.
The employees in Las Vegas are asking for similar concessions as the employees in Detroit. Mainly, everyone wants to be paid fairly based on the employer’s earnings.
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