CASINO ORGANIZING ROUNDUP
Foxwoods deal 'what we have been working for'
Casino workers in Connecticut and Indiana are calling it "exactly what we’ve been working for" and "a great start."
And thanks to UAW representation, they’re continuing to make progress at their workplaces.
At Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Conn., the Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprise and UAW workers there reached a historic agreement in October to negotiate a union contract under Tribal Law.
"This is a very important agreement and the first step toward achieving a first contract for workers at Foxwoods," said UAW Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn, who directs organizing for the union’s Technical, Office and Professional (TOP) Department.
"Everyone at work is very excited," said Bonnie Forman, a 7-year dealer at Foxwoods. "This is exactly what we have been working for."
Casino Aztar progress
Another site of progress toward worker representation in casinos is Casino Aztar in Evansville, Ind. In December, UAW members at Casino Aztar reached an agreement with management to begin bargaining for a first contract for more than 200 casino dealers.
"We are happy to start negotiations with Casino Aztar and expect that this is the beginning of a cooperative and productive relationship," said Bunn. "Working together, employers and workers can ensure that Casino Aztar continues to be a vital and thriving part of the Evansville community."
"This is a great start, and we're happy to be moving forward to the bargaining table," said Salli Rackley, a dealer at Casino Aztar since it opened in December 1995 and chair of the bargaining committee.
Local support in Evansville played a key role in the agreement, said Maurice Davison, director of UAW Region 3, which includes Indiana and Kentucky.
"We applaud the encouragement that Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel offered to the parties to resolve our differences," said Davison. "And we are looking forward to assisting workers at Casino Aztar in winning what they have long deserved: a first contract, which will improve their jobs and improve their workplace."
In October 2007, Casino Aztar dealers voted to form a union and seek UAW representation. But casino management appealed the election results, which delayed bargaining until an agreement was announced in December.
While Casino Aztar agreed to recognize the election results and bargain with the UAW, the union agreed to stop pursuing unfair labor practice charges against the casino with the National Labor Relations Board. The UAW charged casino managers with making unilateral changes to health insurance coverage for dealers.
Casino Aztar has since agreed to reimburse workers for the amount of increased health insurance costs created by the unilateral management changes.
Atlantic City update
In Atlantic City, nearly 4,000 casino workers continue to stand united in their fight for first contracts at Bally's, Caesars, Tropicana and Trump Plaza. The situation in Atlantic City – where workers voted for union representation well over a year ago but have met stiff resistance in beginning bargaining – is another example of why we need to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. It would enable real penalties for companies that violate labor law and allow workers to seek arbitration for first contracts after four months of negotiations.
