DETROIT – Union members with the Detroit Casino Council have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract with MGM Grand Detroit after 47 days on strike. The unions will suspend the strike effective immediately.

The five-year agreement covering 1700 employees includes the largest wage increases ever for MGM Grand Detroit workers (including an immediate 18% pay raise on average), a bonus, no health care cost increases for employees, workload reductions and other job protections, first-ever technology contract language and more. Upon ratification, workers will receive an immediate $3 an hour raise (average 18% wage increase in Year One) and $5 an hour total raises over the life of the contract.

“Since welcoming my son into the world, securing my family’s health care benefits was the most important thing to me,” said Gabriel Robert Hernandez, a valet at MGM Grand Detroit and member of Teamsters Local 1038. “We sacrificed a lot during the pandemic, but we fought for and ultimately won a contract that secures our health care and provides significantly improved wages.”

“Both my son and I have been on strike together, so for me the fight to protect our healthcare and win better wages was always about something bigger for my family and the next generation,” said Alicia Weaver, a guest room attendant for 24 years at MGM Grand Detroit and member of UNITE HERE Local 24. “Together – with the rest of our MGM family who stood with us on that picket line in the rain and frigid temperatures – we made history, and I’m proud of what we accomplished by taking a stand together.”

“I am happy to announce that MGM employees ratified their contract tonight. I am impressed by how all the unions and members worked together to win an excellent contract. I’m looking forward to going back to work,” said Patrick Nichols, a dealer at MGM Grand Detroit and member of UAW Local 7777.

The settlement with MGM Grand Detroit follows outstanding agreements already reached with Hollywood Casino at Greektown and MotorCity Casino, whose unionized employees ratified new contracts on Nov. 19 after 34 days on strike. Casino workers at all three Detroit casino properties launched a wall-to-wall strike on Oct. 17 to protect their healthcare and improve wages that had not kept up with the cost of living.

By striking, MGM Grand Detroit workers have secured the following gains:

• Winning the largest wage increases ever negotiated in the history of MGM Grand Detroit, including a $3/hr. raise up front (average 18% wage increase in Year One), $5/hr. over the life of the contract
• Protecting the healthcare standard that Detroit casino unions have built over two decades with NO increased costs to employees or plan changes
• 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
• An option for a bonus up front or the 2nd year of the contract
• First-ever 401K match option up to $1000
• Paid Juneteenth Holiday

 

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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.