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Detroit, MI – The Detroit Casino Council has reached a tentative agreement for a new five-year contract with MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino and Hollywood Casino at Greektown after 32 days on strike. The unions will continue to strike until the members ratify the proposed settlement.
This settlement is a historic investment in Detroit’s future. This new contract brings together workers and employers in partnership to fulfill the gaming industry’s promise to Detroit of high-paying casino jobs with good benefits. The historic five-year tentative agreement covering 3700 employees includes the largest wage increases ever negotiated in the Detroit casino industry’s 23-year history (including an immediate 18% pay raise on average), no health care cost increases for employees, workload reductions and other job protections, first-ever technology contract language, retirement increases and more.
Additional specifics of the new union collective bargaining agreement will not be disclosed publicly at this time to ensure unionized casinos workers have the opportunity to see full details of their contract first and vote on whether to accept it. A ratification vote by the membership will be scheduled soon with all five unions that comprise the Detroit Casino Council: UNITE HERE Local 24, UAW Local 7777, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters.
“Our strike showed the casino industry and the world just what Detroit’s casino workers are made of,” said Tavera McCree, a Valet Cashier at Hollywood Casino at Greektown and member of Teamsters Local 1038. “This is a defining moment for workers in Detroit and nationwide. The gains we have made will change the lives of so many families who are living paycheck to paycheck. I would like to thank everyone who stood strong on the picket line to make this win possible.”
“This historic agreement rewards the sacrifice that casino workers made throughout the pandemic,” said Milledge McCaster, an Engineer at Hollywood at Greektown for 14 years and a member of the Operating Engineers Local 324. “We set a new standard with major wage increases and ground-breaking wins like first-ever workplace technology language and other job protections that will empower workers to have a say in the future of work in this industry.”
“A contract of this significance makes me feel proud to work in Detroit’s casinos once again,” said Alicia Weaver, a Guest Room Attendant for 24 years at MGM Casino and member of UNITE HERE Local 24. “Cleaning hotel rooms is a really tough job that gets tougher every year, so the fixes we made in this contract to reduce my daily workload mean less strain on my body and more energy for my family when I get home from work. Everyone on both sides worked hard to get this done.”
“We fought to defend our healthcare and win historic wages, and we won,” said Terri Sykes, a Dealer at MotorCity Casino for 24 years and President of UAW Local 7777. “As a two-time breast-cancer survivor, I feel relieved knowing we have protected our healthcare with no increased costs. We stood strong—five unions united—showing it’s possible to win big when workers do brave things and stick together.”
On Oct. 17, unionized casino workers at MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino, and Hollywood Casino at Greektown launched a wall-to-wall strike affecting 3700 casino workers, including dealers, housekeepers and other cleaning staff, food and beverage workers, valets, engineers, and more. Workers were forced on strike to protect their healthcare and improve wages that have not kept up with the cost of living. It is the first casino strike in Detroit history, and the first wall-to-wall casino strike in American history.
The historic agreements come after years of hardship that Detroit casino workers have endured after sacrificing raises and shouldering heavier workloads so the industry could stay open during the pandemic. Since that time, Detroit’s gaming industry revenues have hit record highs. Workers went on strike, demanding large wage increases in the face of high inflation and other job protections.
The proposed settlement represents another win for union workers nationwide fighting for economic justice with a historic wave of strikes that have resulted in big gains for American workers across many industries.
By striking, Detroit Casino Council Unions have moved the industry towards a new standard:
- Winning the largest wage increases ever negotiated in the history of the Detroit casino industry;
- Protecting the healthcare standard that Detroit casino unions have built over two decades with NO increased costs to employees;
- Reducing workloads in housekeeping and other classifications that have resulted from 1500 fewer workers post pandemic;
- Securing first-ever technology protections to guarantee advanced notification when new technology is introduced that impacts jobs, require training for new jobs created by technology, and provide health care and severance pay for workers who are laid off because of new technology.
- Improving the value of the retirement benefit after no increase in 8 years.
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The Detroit Casino Council (DCC) is UNITE HERE Local 24, the UAW, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters. These five unions represent most of the workers at the three casinos in Detroit: Hollywood Casino at Greektown, MGM Grand Detroit, and MotorCity Casino. Our members work in food and beverage, housekeeping, retail outlets, slots and table games, engineering and more. The DCC partner unions are part of International Unions that have experience representing gaming workers and winning great contracts throughout the United States, including in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Learn more at https://www.detroitcasinocouncil.org.
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DETROIT – Over 650 workers at LM Manufacturing in Detroit, MI, have voted by a supermajority to join the UAW as part of Local 600, one of the largest and most historic locals in UAW history.
“It makes me feel good,” LM worker Cassandra Wiley said about the ‘yes’ vote. “It makes me feel like our voices were heard. It makes us feel like we accomplished something. It’s a really good feeling to know that change is coming.”
Workers at LM Manufacturing produce seats for the Ford Bronco and Ranger. Organizing efforts at the facility began two months ago.
“The workers at LM reached out to the UAW with a desire to improve their working conditions and the UAW responded,” said Region 1A Servicing Representative, Darieus Finklea.
“These workers overwhelmingly wanted a union at their worksite,” said Region 1A Director, Laura Dickerson. “They’re excited, we’re excited, and the Local’s excited because 660 new UAW members is tremendous. We’ll be sitting down and negotiating their first contract coming up.”
“If you’re ever in a position to unionize a job, never be scared, never shy away,” said worker Doctainan Peoples. “Look danger in the face. Nothing comes easy. Don’t shy away from the UAW if they come to (unionize) your job… you’d better run up to ’em.”
UAW members are fired up and ready to win a historic contract. We’ve been going to contract action trainings at Local halls and Regional offices all across our union.
The UAW has officially kicked off contract talks with all the Big Three automakers. This year’s negotiations had a very different tone even before our bargaining teams got to the table.
In the past, bargaining began with a staged ceremony where UAW leaders shook hands with company CEOs. This year, our union’s top officers headed to the front gates of Stellantis’ Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP), GM’s Factory ZERO, and Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant during shift changes last Wednesday to shake hands with members and listen to their concerns.
At the three plants, members signed more than a thousand Support Cards saying they’re united for a strong contract. Click here to sign a digital support card.
“It’s beautiful,” SHAP worker Kim Woodward told the Detroit Free Press. “I like what I see, just the people rallying and talking.”
UAW President Shawn Fain and Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock were joined at SHAP by UAW Vice President Rich Boyer, director of the UAW-Stellantis Department, and Region 1 Director LaShawn English.
By meeting with the rank and file first, they put the Big Three on notice that the pressing needs of current and retired members have to be addressed in these negotiations.
“The automakers can afford to make things right,” Fain told workers as he met with them on Wednesday. “They can afford to address our issues; cost-of-living, supporting retirees, job security and ending wage tiers. But they’re not going to just give it to us. We’ve got to be in this thing together. This is about you. This is about our next generation.”
Secretary-Treasurer Mock made clear that the union is financially ready for a fight, if need be. “Our strike fund is very healthy. We are going strong into these talks, and in the event of a potential strike, we’ll be ready. We feel good about being able to take care of our members’ needs.”
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Vice President Boyer spoke about Stellantis’ Belvidere Assembly Plant, which the company arbitrarily idled earlier this year. “Our members there had a good attendance, they had good quality, they have a great workforce, and Stellantis still wants to move…. It’s clean, simple corporate greed by the corporation.” Boyer stated that the UAW will fight tooth and nail during negotiations to keep the facility open.
After the morning meetups at SHAP, the UAW’s leadership team headed to GM’s Factory ZERO. Local and national press was at every stop as well. The New York Times asked Kevin Winston, an electrician at Factory ZERO, how he felt about the union taking a more aggressive approach in bargaining. “Now is the time,” Winston told the Times. “I’m ready to strike, 100 percent, and I haven’t heard anyone say we shouldn’t strike.”
“The 2023 national negotiations have the potential of being a defining moment in the labor movement for years to come,” said Vice President Mike Booth, director of the UAW-GM Department. “We are looking forward to these negotiations.”
The day wrapped up at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant. UAW Vice President Chuck Browning, director of the UAW-Ford Department, and Region 1 Director Laura Dickerson met with members as they came to work for their 6 p.m. shift. Region 4 Director Brandon Campbell and Region 9 Director Daniel Vicente, who both represent Big Three members in their regions, also made it to the Michigan Assembly Plant to stand in solidarity.
“We recognize the importance and seriousness of the task at hand for our UAW members,” Browning said. “Our members seek only the ability to earn a decent standard of living, attain job security and the opportunity to retire with dignity while working in a safe and fair workplace. That’s what this is about.”
Negotiations with Stellantis began last Thursday, followed by Ford the next day. General Motors negotiations began yesterday. To get the latest news on negotiations, click here go to our special Big Three Bargaining webpages.
July 17, 2023 (Brooklyn, NY) – Today, the Children’s Law Center (CLC) staff announced that they are on strike. CLC is a 26-year-old, non-profit law firm, and the first organization in New York City dedicated primarily to the representation of children in custody, visitation, and guardianship litigation. Their attorneys, social workers, and other staff are dedicated to ensuring that the children whom they represent have a voice in the legal proceedings that have a critical impact on their lives.
In 2020, faced with enormous caseloads and low wages that did not meet industry standards, CLC staff voted overwhelmingly to unionize with the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, UAW Local 2325, which represents 3,000 members at 25 non-profit legal services providers primarily in New York City.
In March 2021, CLC’s union presented its initial contract proposal to management. In the 838 days since, CLC Management has failed to bargain in good faith, only making a first insulting and abysmal salary offer last week and forcing the union to call for a strike.
CLC is not alone in calling for higher wages and better working conditions. Legal and human services organizations across the city have chosen to organize in recent years. The importance of our legal and social work cannot be overstated. Unfortunately, the way that CLC’s Management and Board of Directors have treated staff at the bargaining table demonstrates that, ultimately, they do not value staff’s significant experience, expertise, and dedication to improving the lives of some of New York City’s most at-risk children.
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