‘A NEW CHAPTER AT FOXWOODS’
UAW, Pequots forge agreement
As the service sector of the U.S. economy continues to expand, UAW members are working to protect good jobs, good pay and fairness for service industry workers.
In eastern Connecticut workers took another step forward, negotiating a union representation agreement with the Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprise.
“This is a historic event that is a great win for our members and Foxwoods, and could also open possibilities elsewhere,” said UAW Region 9A Director Bob Madore. “Negotiating a union contract with neither party ceding federal rights, while respecting tribal law, is a real milestone.”
“I’m proud of our union,” said Foxwoods swing shift worker Li Yi. “We’re writing a new chapter at Foxwoods.”
Fellow swing shift worker Billy Marshall agreed. “A year ago management said they would never negotiate. We achieved this because we have a diverse organizing committee, and we’ve stayed strong.”
The agreement certifies the UAW to represent a unit of table games, poker and dual-rate dealers at Foxwoods Resort and Casino. The union and Foxwoods will negotiate a contract under tribal law with neither party waiving their federal rights.
“This is a very important agreement,” said UAW Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn, who directs organizing for the union's Technical, Office and Professional (TOP) Department. “It came about because both parties were willing to listen and address each other’s concerns.
The Mashantucket Pequots have set an extraordinary example by respecting the rights of workers, and we look forward to building a strong relationship in the future.”
There’s a five-month deadline for the talks, with either party having the right to submit unresolved issues to binding arbitration under the tribal system. Arbitration results in a final decision by a mutually agreed-on neutral party.
“The concepts of tribal sovereignty and self-government are very important to all Native American tribes,” said Jackson King, general counsel of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.
“We are very pleased to have come to an understanding that both acknowledges employees’ rights to join unions and respects the rights of Native American governments.”
