Detroit Casinos Ready to Negotiate With Workers to End Strike

Article by : Erik Gibbs Nov 21, 2023

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After 32 days on strike, the Detroit Casino Council, representing 3,700 workers, has announced a tentative five-year agreement with Detroit’s three casinos.

According to the council’s statement on Friday, the deal includes immediate pay raises averaging 18%, no increases in health care costs for employees, workload reductions, job protections, the inclusion of technology contract language for the first time, retirement increases and more.

Milledge McCaster, an operating engineer at Hollywood Casino at Greektown who played a role in negotiating the deal, expressed excitement and happiness outside the gaming house.

McCaster emphasized the positive impact on the lives of casino workers, highlighting provisions like maintaining the status quo on health care.

McCaster also believes that these improvements will enable workers to transition from renting apartments to buying houses and from using bikes to owning cars for commuting.

The strike, which began on October 17, involved approximately 3,700 workers at Detroit’s MGM Grand Detroit, Hollywood Casino at Greektown and MotorCity Casino after negotiations failed to yield new contracts.

The agreement is contingent on a vote by members, according to the casino council, and the strike will persist until the deal is ratified. In a joint press release, the casinos acknowledged reaching an agreement with the council.

Matt Buckley, President and COO of Midwest Group at MGM Resorts International, expressed satisfaction with the tentative agreement, stating that it provides a historic pay increase to the DCC-represented employees and ends the strike.

Bruce Dall, the president of MotorCity Casino Hotel, conveyed pride in providing exceptional jobs and benefits for the dedicated workforce and anticipates the ratification of the deal, according to a statement.

John Drake, the vice president and general manager at Hollywood Casino at Greektown, indicated appreciation for the productive and respectful negotiations with the Detroit Casino Council (DCC) and eagerly looks forward to welcoming back team members soon, as stated in another release.

The striking workers, consisting of dealers, cleaning staff, food and beverage staff, valets and engineers, have been advocating for healthcare protection, wage increases, improved job security and fair workloads.

The Detroit Casino Council, comprising the UAW, Unite Here Local 24, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324 and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters, asserted that the strike resulted in the “largest wage increases ever negotiated in the history of the Detroit casino industry.”

The agreement also safeguarded health care without increased costs to employees and enhanced the value of workers’ retirement benefits after eight years without increases.

Specific details of the new deal are not disclosed to allow unionized casino workers to review the full contract details before voting on its acceptance, according to the council’s statement.

Maxine Ward-Looney, a 23-year slot technician at Hollywood Casino at Greektown, expressed optimism about the deal passing, stating that they achieved what they asked for.

Looney emphasized the positive aspect of the strike, bringing team members closer and fostering connections with amazing people that might not have been possible otherwise.