The Detroit Casino Council announced a negotiated agreement had been reached on a contract that involves thousands of workers. But striking workers at one of the three Michigan betting properties, MGM Grand Casino, rejected the deal.
MGM Workers Vote No
The majority of the 3700 workers who have been on strike since October 7th have reached an agreement with the casinos that employ them. Approximately 2,100 employees at Greektown and MotorCity casinos voted to ratify the contract earlier this week and put an end to what was a 34-day strike.
However, workers at MGM Grand Casino rejected the pact crafted by the five unions that comprise the Detroit Casino Council. It is not clear why those workers rejected the new contract, but MGM said in a letter, “This is a very disappointing result, especially considering the historic nature of our offer,” also adding that more than 600 of the council-represented workers voted to ratify the contract.
Worker’s Concerns
WXYZ in Detroit asked workers picketing the MGM Grand Detroit why they rejected the deal when so many other workers at the other two locations accepted the terms. “I was afraid that a 64-month contract was just too long,” said Wendy Abraham, a union member and dealer at MGM Grand Detroit.
Others also pointed to the initial $3 per hour raise as not being enough. Catherine Bilek Roberts, who also works at MGM, said, “We should at least get $6, or $7 an hour, the first year.” Nina Hamilton, also a worker at MGM, said, “The baseline was way too low.”
What’s in The Deal?
Three of the five unions -the UNITE HERE Local 24, the United Auto Workers (UAW), and Teamsters Local 1038- representing the workers at the Detroit Casino Council negotiated the new deal with the owners of the properties.
The workers at Greektown and MotorCity have accepted the agreement and have agreed to end their strike. But now it’s time to find out what’s in the deal that brought the sides together.
The contracts include an immediate raise of $3 an hour in the first year and $5 an hour in total raises over the five-year duration of the contract. Workers will not be charged any additional money for health insurance, while a ground-breaking 401K program with an employer match of up to $1,000 was instituted. Juneteenth will now be counted as a paid holiday and reduced workloads were negotiated for housekeeping workers in other departments.
Tech Alerts and Severance Pay
Workers will receive alerts about new technologies entering their industry, as there is concern that it may negatively affect their jobs. Severance pay for workers laid off due to upgrades has also been incorporated into the agreement.
Tavera McCree, a Valet Cashier at Hollywood Casino at Greektown and member of Teamsters Local 1038 commented in the Detroit council’s news release:
“Our strike showed the casino industry and the world just what Detroit’s casino workers are made of. 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.”
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