How Detroit casino workers are betting on themselves with a first-ever strike

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After more than a year off work, Corada Richardson returned to her hotel room cleaning job at Detroit's MGM Grand in May 2021. She weathered unemployment when the casinos closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the job had gone from tough to brutal.

Many of her coworkers did not return, and the hotel was short-lived. Ten hours of bed-making and toilet-cleaning became the new normal from her usual eight-day shifts.

She worked under time pressure for $17. 70 an hour, including overtime. At the MGM Grand, housekeepers were allowed 45 minutes to clean a room with two queen beds and 30 minutes for a room with one queen bed. If partygoers left a mess, it was a disaster. The cleaning hours were the same. He had to clean 12 to 16 rooms a day. It could be 11 or 12 hours of physical labor.

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"Richardson switched to stocking minibars for $1 more an hour shortly before the strike," he said. "People are having health problems. People are having knee and back surgeries because it's so hard on their bodies."

Richardson is one of thousands of workers who walked out of their jobs at MGM Grand, Greektown's Hollywood Casino and MotorCity Casino Hotel on October 17, starting Detroit's first casino strike in history.

The workers are calling for higher wages, better health care and job security. The 24-hour lines are straining the finances of the casinos, not to mention the city of Detroit, which relies heavily on gaming tax revenue.

But Strikers Casino may face an even tougher fight from the United Auto Workers (UAW), which recently won significant concessions from Detroit's three auto companies.

The casinos remain open. Wide gaps remain between the negotiating parties' wage and health care proposals. At the same time, frigid temperatures and limited union funds could make it more difficult for strikers to launch a strike. "Trying to stop gambling is a whole different issue," said Michel Fecteau, director of the Center for Labor and Community Studies at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. "Gambling is a whole different industry."

Jason Barty, a MGM Grand spokesman, did not answer the questions of the workers. The other two casinos did not respond to comments.

The following is known about the strike and its potential.

Detroit casinos have hotels, spas, restaurants, bars, concert venues, and gaming businesses. Last year's revenue was $ 1. 2 billion, hired thousands of people.

Who is striking?

The strike is organized by the Detroit Casino Council (DCC). The DCC is a group consisting of five regional union branches, representing a total of 3. 700 occupations.

UNight Hear Local 24 is a slot machine clerk, all no n-managed eating and drinking workers (including line cocks, bartender, weight staff), hotel customer service (including housekeepers, front staff, room staff, and facility cleaners) Is represented.

• The UAW region 7777 union represents poker and blackjack dealers, slott machine staff, and other casino game floors.
• Team Stars Local 1038 represents player services and valley employees. Player service workers are greeting customers and monitoring the floor for violations of rules.
• Operating Engineers Local 324 represents heavy equipment operators, mechanics, and regular mechanics. They maintain boilers and HVAC systems in casinos.
• The Michigan Regional Carpenters Council represents a carpenter. They repair any damage to the casino physical structure.
• Each casino has a single contract with DCC. There are representatives in the member unions, focusing on specific problems during negotiations.

UAW Local 7777 workers have received a $ 500 strike allowance per week. DCC representatives, who only talk about the background, said the amount of strike allowances was different for each union, but the amount would not be clear.

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Payment is the lead. DCC executives said in a video released on November 4 that the workers wanted to raise their hourly wage $ 325 in the first year of the new contract. So far, the casino side has offered a 9 5-cent salary increase.

What are workers’ demands?

Healthcare is the second demand. Casino workers want stable medical benefits without monthly premiums. DCC leaders said in a video that casinates want to pay 60 dollars every month to workers. Since then, managers have offered to make insurance premiums $ 40 per month.

Employees have an average hourly wage of $ 16. 33 for three casinos. The UAW Local 7777 chairman Kimbary Ciffax is a table dealer at the Greek Town Hollywood casino. She has been working for 22 years and has raised only $ 7.

The old contract was ratified in 2015. Although it expired in 2020, the employee voted for the extension of the contract due to the pandemic (global epidemic). Since then, the number of inflation has risen by 20 %, and employees have only received 3 % increase.

The union said that when he returned to the negotiating table, he expected more wages, but was refused.

"They have sacrificed our wage," We have remembered the vacation for the last eight years. It's time to give us what they gave up. " "

On Tuesday night, money was still flowing into the motor city casino. Outlier Media passed through the main gaming floor where hundreds of customers were playing slot machines and table games. There were staff at the strut bar and dozens of game tables, surrounded by regular customers.

How is the strike impacting the casinos?

Nevertheless, the casino was operating with a reduced capacity. Some restaurants, bars, valley services, game areas, and spas are closed.

The impressive workers "Talk about their money, but what about my money?" A casino customer told Outlier on Tuesday. "Nobody has come here to talk to me." I pray for good luck. "

Casino managers and Detroit authorities avoided the casino due to strikes, and how much the city was suffering.

The Michigan Gaming Management Committee will report the income in October at the end of this month.

The casino strike faces a unique challenge. No one is absorbed in making a car, but gambling poisoning is a diagnostic disability. Anyone who is willing to expose human relationships and economic happiness in the bet will be willing to cross the picket line.

Consultation on gambling addiction in Michigan is up to 800-270-7117.

Before the strike, the casino was $ 450 every day in Detroit

What does the strike mean for the City of Detroit?

According to Stephanie Davis, a communication director of the Supreme Finance Office, the city is expected to have an additional income of $ 158. 5 million since gaming this year and $ 89. 8 million from online gaming. It is.

Last month, after hundreds of casino workers participated in online and direct public meetings, the city council passed a resolution to support strikes.

"The City of Detroit is prepared to handle short-term revenue disruptions because the Mayor and City Council have worked together for many years to develop a fiscal plan that is based on financial resilience. We hope to reach a fair agreement between the casinos and the casino workers union soon."

John Roach, a spokesman for Mayor Mike Duggan, declined to comment on the city's involvement in the negotiations.

The outcome of the casino strike could have ripples throughout Detroit's service economy. Casinos are large employers in the sector, and competitors could be pressured to agree to wage increases. A victory for the union representing casino workers could encourage other workers to unionize.

What does strike mean for other service workers across Detroit?

Casino workers are just a fraction of the thousands of workers who have been on strike since September, including 250 who work at Detroit's kindergartens. When the UAW ended its six-week automatic sign-up late last month, the new contract included double-digit wage increases.

Shaitia Burton, a warehouse worker at MGM Grand, said the UAW victory proves that the casino workers' strike will be worthwhile.

"It gave us all a little bit of courage to not be afraid of companies like this," Burton, who worked at MGM Grand for more than a year, said. "It was nice to see that we're on the same page."

Many of the impressive casino's 3, 700 employees work in the leisure and hospitality industry. Federal statistics for 2022 show that leisure and hospitality workers in Wayne County, which includes Detroit, account for 65.

Many of the workers in this sector within Michigan are unionized. While specific membership numbers in Detroit are unknown, it is known that more than 6, 000 hospitality workers are unionized throughout Michigan and Ohio through Unite Here. Nearly 1, 300 food and beverage workers are unionized under Teamsters Local 1038 (6, 600 members throughout Detroit and Port Huron). Business Engineers 324 has 14, 000 members, and another 14, 000 carpenters are represented in the state-level Michigan District Council.

The strike war won't be easy: With freezing temperatures expected, strikers are soliciting donations from the public to supplement workers' limited strike pay.

What does public support for these workers look like?

Ciffax says not only donations but also the general public can cooperate by not crossing the picket lines. If the casino does not feel the financial pain of a strike, workers can weaken their influence in negotiations.

He added that the by cell line is a major source of income for the casino and extends to the growing online gambling.

Richardson stated that strike pain was better than wage sluggish or unable to sustainable working conditions.

"We're already frustrated and tired." The sacrifice was great. I was prepared.

Correction This article has been corrected that the Operating Engineers Local 324 members are maintained the system inside the casino building instead of gaming equipment. Ciffax says not only donations, but also ordinary citizens can cooperate by not crossing the picket lines. If the casino does not feel the financial pain of a strike, workers can weaken their influence in negotiations.

He added that the by cell line is a major source of income for the casino and extends to growing online gambling.