Harrah’s Philadelphia Is the Latest to See Casino Workers Talking About a Strike

Article by : Erik Gibbs Oct 16, 2023

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Approximately 150 members of three unions gathered in front of the Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack parking garage, chanting, “No contract, no peace.” This marked the first time the unions had taken public action at this property since its opening.

The unions, Unite Here Local 54, Laborers Local 413 and Teamsters Local 107, were seeking better wages, improved working conditions and a fair contract.

They represented 180 workers at the Delaware County casino, including housekeepers, bartenders, cocktail servers, cooks, bellmen, doormen and more.

Donna DeCaprio, the president of Unite Here 54, stated that the workers at Harrah’s were not earning a living wage and that some made less than $10 an hour, whereas the regional industry average was $16 an hour.

DeCaprio highlighted that over 30% of the workers relied on some form of public assistance and expressed their desire for jobs that would allow them to support themselves and their families independently.

The unions had been in negotiations with the company since June, and their initial contract had expired on April 30 but was extended until June 30.

However, the unions claimed that the company had not put forward a reasonable wage proposal. They emphasized that stagnant wages, combined with rising inflation, made it cruel to pay people less than $10 an hour.

Mike Hamilton, a single father of five children and a bar porter at Harrah’s Philadelphia, explained that the workers were seeking a raise to support their families due to the increasing cost of living.

Hamilton had to work two jobs, including driving for Uber, and mentioned the stress of juggling multiple jobs to pay the bills.

State Rep. Dave Delloso, who was on-site in his capacity as the business manager for the Teamsters, said that they were looking for a fair contract and fair wages.

Vici Properties owns the casino, which is operated by Caesars Entertainment. Despite multiple attempts to reach out to Caesars Entertainment, there was no response.

The unions aimed to hold the company accountable for living up to its promises, particularly the commitment to paying excellent wages outlined in Harrah’s Philadelphia mission statement.

The unions urged the company to come to the negotiating table with a fair wage proposal that aligns with their values.

In Caesars’ 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement report, the company disclosed that the median employee’s total annual compensation was $36,252, while the CEO’s was $31.3 million in 2022.

The report also showed an increase in net revenues and net income for the company.

The unions continued to emphasize the importance of fair wages and the need for employees to earn a living wage that would support them and their families without reliance on public assistance.