SEARCH
Foxwoods Casino Dealers Reach Historic Tentative Contract
 |
||||
|
||||
More than a year after contract negotiations began, some 2,500 casino dealers at Foxwoods Resort Casino and MGM Grand in Connecticut, members of UAW Local 2121, have a tentative settlement for a first contract. Foxwoods/MGM, owned by the Mashantucket Pequot tribe, is the largest gaming complex in the country.
If ratified, the contract would provide an average 12 percent increase in wages over two years and establish a more equitable distribution of tips. The contract also creates what the union describes as “an industry model” for job safety, including programs to reduce repetitive stress injuries, a major extension of medical leave time for workers out with serious illnesses for more than six months and a unique 24-table “smoke-free pit” for workers and customers.
Says Denise Gladue, a 15-year dealer at Foxwoods:
This is a great victory for us. This preserves our basic benefits during a tough economy, provides job security and contract improvements in so many areas. We see this agreement as a win-win for employees and for the future success of the casino.
After the tribe resisted recognition of the union, the National Labor Relations Board issued a bargaining order in September 2008. The UAW negotiated an agreement to send the negotiations into arbitration after five months if no progress was made. Both sides agreed to continue negotiations after the five-month deadline expired.
The Employee Free Choice Act’s arbitration provisions would have prevented these long negotiations and encouraged both sides to come to the bargaining table to reach fair settlements sooner. The legislation provides the mediation and arbitration assistance to help settle a contract when a company and a newly certified union cannot agree on a contract after three months.
UAW Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn adds:
When the Foxwoods dealers asked for our help three years ago, we promised we would stand with them. This successful effort will be an inspiration to gaming workers throughout the United States.
 |
Become a Fan on Facebook |  |
Follow Us on Twitter |  |
Subscribe to YouTube |  |
Subscribe to Blog RSS | ||||
5 Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
It’s alway so exciting to yet another area of workers organize. This is the time for the union that are afiliated with the AFL-CIO or not to have a mega organizing campaign going on through our country, Mexico and Canada. The more union job’s the better the wage and benefits and the better the econocy gets. I was a part of AFSCME in Minnesota for approximatly 25 years then moved up to a higher level job in MN that was represented by Minnesota Association of Public Employees (MAPE) which was not afiliated. I have retired early and moved to GA which is the most anti union state in the nation. It’s unbelievable, so may politicans are in the back pockets of the republicans, very sad. Trying to sell our house and move back to MN. I always thought that MN was bad when it came to beging represented by unions and getting a fair wage and benefit,here its unheard of. People have to keep trying to orginazing. This country needs unions to equilize the playing field. I hope the people sitting in their ivory towers at the top of the unions under stand that without membership they have no job. Top levels in each union and local along with top staff at the AFL-CIO need to get down to the level of their members, live their life for a month to understand how this economy is affecting them. Top staff is out of touch which needs to change before their out of a job.
I agree (MNDreamin on 27.01.2010 at 13:36) UAW local 710 tried to organise the Ameristar Casino here in Kansas City, MO. My brother in law and a couple of his family work there, they treat them like garbage. But what got me was the annoyed dismissive additude of my brother in law when I brought up the organising campaign. When he’s treated like crap by an employer but is still more paranoid of unions, even after they fired him for a machine that didn’t work and then hired him back, it shows just the kind of propaganda that we need two correct.
I find it rather surprising how Georgia has changed into such a scab state over the years. It was the state that the IAMAW was founded in, and before all the factory closers Atlanta in particular was a heavily unionised area with textile, auto assembly, and other operations. I guess that those good union people moved north also. But I don’t know if Georgia is the most anti-union, that I think would probably be Mississipi or Alabama. I’d be a little torn between a product made in Mississipi/Alabama or Japan.
We all stand with you!!
One down so many to go! Don’t give up never give up!
-BRS20
I understand that the UAW needs to increase their membership in order to increase their power but casino workers should be a part of UNITE HERE. These dealers would have more power if they were in a Union with other casino dealers it’s that simple. the UAW God Bless their heart needs to organize non-Union auto workers in the South