DETROIT – Unionized workers striking at three downtown Detroit casinos reached a tentative agreement Friday that could end the month-long picket, but only after the deal is ratified by union members.
The Detroit Casino Council, which represents casino workers belonging to several local unions, reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement on Friday, Nov. 17, with MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino and Hollywood Casino in Greektown. About 3,700 unionized casino workers went on strike at the downtown casinos on October 17 after their contract expired without a new agreement in place to replace it.
“Our strike showed the casino industry and the world what a tough guy Detroit casino workers are,” said Tavera McCree, a cashier at Hollywood Casino in Greektown and a member of Teamsters Local 1038. “This is a pivotal moment for Detroit workers and workers .” nationwide. The profits we make will transform the lives of so many families living paycheck to paycheck. I want to thank everyone who stood firm on the picket line and made this victory possible.”
The tentative deal, viewed by some union members Friday as “historic,” is expected to include wage increases and benefits designed to help close the cost-of-living gap that workers say has only widened in recent years. The council said the agreement “includes the largest wage increases ever negotiated in the 23-year history of the Detroit casino industry (including an immediate wage increase averaging 18%), no increase in employee health care costs, workload reductions, and others Job protections.” -every technology contract language, pension increases and more.”
For the agreement to take effect, a majority of unionized workers must vote in favor of the agreement. Officials say Detroit casino workers will continue striking until the tentative agreement is ratified by union members.
The strike began as workers disagreed with companies over health care costs and wages, especially as the company recovered from the pandemic. Union members told Local 4 last month that they did not want to strike during what they described as difficult times, but felt like they were being heard.
“Workers are seeking contract improvements after years of pandemic-related hardship — including wages that keep pace with inflation, health care, pension security, technology language, fair workloads for housekeepers and more — but casino management has been unwilling to deliver a fair contract. “for workers,” union officials said in October.
Business leaders said in October that several offers had been made to the council over months of negotiations. Matt Buckley, president and COO of MGM’s Midwest Group, said at the time that MGM had offered Grand Detroit its “largest raise” in the casino’s history.
The council — which oversees casino workers represented by Unite Here, United Auto Workers, Teamsters, Operating Engineers and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters unions — reportedly reached a tentative five-year contract agreement on Nov. 17 to end the strike. 32 days after the casino strike began. The “Unite Here,” Local 24 told the union The tentative agreement is the “best agreement in.” [the] history of [the] Casino Industry in Detroit.”
Officials said last month that the strike is expected to have a significant impact on the casinos, Detroit and the state of Michigan, and “approximately “It will jeopardize $738,000 in city and state tax revenue and $3.4 million in casino operator revenue per day.”
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