Ocean Downs Casino Workers Weigh Strike as Contract Talks Stall Over Wages

Union Says Management Contract Offer Misses the Mark

Employees represented by Unite Here Local 7 have spent nearly seven months negotiating with Churchill Downs Incorporated, the casino’s parent company, but have yet to reach an agreement on wages and working conditions. As corporate gaming giants expand their footprints under shifting betting laws by state, labor disputes like this highlight the internal economic pressures facing the industry.

The union recently rejected what it described as the company’s final contract offer, signaling growing frustration among workers who say their pay has failed to keep pace with rising living costs. According to union leaders, many non-tipped employees earn around $15 per hour, with annual incomes often falling below $33,000. 

While the company’s latest proposal included wage increases that would bring some starting positions to just under $16 per hour, workers argue that the raise falls short of what is needed to support themselves and their families.

“After seven months of bargaining, the company made a last and final offer, and workers were really, really disappointed,” said Tracy Lingo, president of Unite Here Local 7.

Lingo also criticized the wage proposal, arguing that workers deserve compensation that reflects both their contributions and the economic realities they face.

“You can’t tell someone that you respect them and then ask them to work for a sub-living wage,” she said.

The dispute has attracted increasing public attention. Workers and supporters recently gathered outside the casino, carrying signs and calling for a fair contract. While union officials have not announced a strike date, they have made it clear that a walkout remains a possibility if negotiations fail to produce meaningful progress.

The union also points to wage comparisons with other casinos in Maryland, where similar positions often offer higher hourly pay. Employees in non-tipped roles—including cooks, cleaners, and slot attendants—say the disparity has become increasingly difficult to ignore. Some workers note that entry-level positions outside the gaming industry are now advertising higher starting wages than those offered at the casino.