Thousands of Detroit casino workers strike over pay, benefits
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Striking Detroit casino workers outside of MGM Grand Detroit Casino on Thursday. | Ken Coleman
Casino workers took to picket lines on Tuesday outside each of Detroit’s three casinos after going on strike following months of failed negotiations for a new union contract.
This is the latest labor action to hit Southeast Michigan, withthousands ofUnited Auto Workers (UAW) on strikefor over a month at Blue Cross Blue Shield, as well as General Motors, Stellantis and Ford plants.
The striking casino workers declared, “No contract, no peace!” during the noon hour as motorists honked their horns in solidarity.
“Our wages have not kept up with the pace of inflation,” said Nia Winston, UNITE HERE Local 24 president.
The Detroit Casino Council (DCC), represents 3,700 workers at Hollywood Casino at Greektown, MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity Casino across five unions: UNITE HERE Local 24, UAW Local 7777, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324 and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters.
The DCC said through a statement on Tuesday, “No deal has been reached yet for thousands of union casino workers who have announced their plan to strike today at noon if no agreement is reached with Detroit’s three casinos.”
The workers include a broad range of classifications such as dealers, cleaning staff, food and beverage workers, valets, engineers and others. Workers are seeking wage increases, strengthened retirement benefits, protections against the implementation of new technology, and other gains to improve jobs in Detroit’s casino industry.
On Sept. 29, DCC members voted 99% to authorize a strike if deemed necessary by the worker negotiating committee.
The casinos, which opened nearly 25 years ago, have meant thousands of jobs for metro Detroit area residents and have provided much-needed revenue to city government. The Detroit casinos are required to pay 10.9% of their adjusted gross revenue in city tax, and an additional 8% in state tax.
Theyreported$107.2 million in monthly aggregate revenue during July 2023, of which $106.7 million was generated from table games and slots, and $477,543 from retail sports betting, according to the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
According to areport released by the DCC on Monday, each day of a strike could put approximately $738,000 in city and state tax revenues and $3.4 million in casino operator revenues at risk.
MGM Grand Detroit spokesman Matt Buckley said on Tuesday, “We intend to continue to operate our business during any potential strike and will remain open this week and beyond.”
“We will continue to offer employees work, and to the extent employees represented by the union choose to participate in the strike, we will take whatever lawful action is necessary to fill shifts and continue providing our customers with entertainment and service,” Buckley added.
MGM Grand Detroit has challenged some of the DCC’s statements over the last several days.
“The union has reported that the Detroit casino industry generated $2.27 billion in gaming revenue in 2022, but total land-based revenues were actually $1.2 billion in 2022,” Buckley added. “The union’s $2.27 billion number includes iGaming and online sports revenues from online platform providers who were required by the Michigan Gaming Control Board to partner with bricks-and-mortar casinos in Michigan to obtain a license.”
