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Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Casino dealers
reach tentative agreement on historic first union
contract with Foxwoods, largest U.S. gaming complex
Pact between 2,500 UAW-represented workers and
Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprise is country's first
dealer contract negotiated under tribal law; may lead to
improved relations between unions and Native American
casino owners
NORWICH, Conn. --The Mashantucket Pequot Gaming
Enterprise, which owns Foxwoods Resort Casino, and UAW
Local 2121 have reached a tentative agreement on a
first-ever union contract covering 2,500 casino dealers
at Foxwoods and MGM Grand on the Mashantucket Pequot
reservation.
If approved by the membership, the contract provides an
average 12 percent increase in dealers' wages over two
years, and establishes a more equitable distribution of
tips resulting in additional significant increases for
the overwhelming majority of dealers.
The contract creates 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 to help workers
vulnerable to second-hand smoke and provide customers
with a smoke-free haven.
"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,"
said Denise Gladue, a baccarat dealer who has been
working at Foxwoods for 15 years. "We see this agreement
as a win-win for employees and for the future success of
the casino."
The tentative agreement also puts the brakes on the
erosion of full-time jobs with benefits by reducing the
number of casual dealers through promotions to regular
part-time with benefits, establishes a real and fair
grievance procedure, and includes the strongest language
in the industry on job security and control of tokes
(tips).
The Foxwoods/MGM complex is the largest gaming casino in
the United States, and union officials are hopeful that
because the new contract was reached under tribal law,
it may help stabilize labor relations at Native
American-owned casinos across the country.
"Working together, we proved casino workers can
successfully exercise their right to have a union under
tribal law," said UAW Region 9A Director Bob Madore.
"Our settlement demonstrates what we have known all
along: that tribal sovereignty and employee rights need
not be inconsistent.
"We value the investment and jobs the Mashantucket
Pequot Tribe has brought to Connecticut, and we look
forward to promoting this exciting resort as a
destination of choice for working families and union
members across New England," he added.
The gaming dealers, who were represented at the
bargaining table by an elected committee of
rank-and-file union activists, have scheduled a Jan. 29
ratification vote on the new contract, with voting from
9 a.m. until 9 p.m. at Foxwoods.
Mashantucket Pequot tribal law prohibits strikes by
workers and lockouts by the employer, sending disputes
that cannot be voluntarily settled to arbitration. While
arbitration hearings on the contract began in August,
the parties reached this agreement voluntarily through
separate negotiations.
Gaming dealers at Foxwoods average about $35,000 in
wages and tips per year. Many of the workers are
minorities, including Asian, Haitian and Latino
immigrants.
"Everyone knows workers are facing difficult economic
times, and the same goes for the casinos," said George
Taylor, a blackjack dealer at Foxwoods for 15 years.
"This contract gives us job stability and improvements
we can count on, and we'll all be working hard to help
our casino get on a better financial footing."
The UAW now represents gaming employees at four casinos
in Atlantic City, N.J., and three in Detroit, and has
made a commitment to helping dealers in casinos across
the country come together to improve wage and benefit
standards. The union has more dealers under contract
than any other union in the country.
"When the Foxwoods dealers asked for our help three
years ago, we promised we would stand with them," said
UAW Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn, who also directs
the union's Technical, Office and Professional
Department. "This successful effort will be an
inspiration to gaming workers throughout the United
States."
John Olsen, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, said
the labor federation will work to make sure 210,000
workers represented by its affiliated unions consider
Foxwoods a union-friendly recreation destination.
For more information, contact: Kate Ferranti at (917)
968-7853 or Ray Abernathy at (202) 362-3745.
International Union, UAW
8000 East Jefferson Avenue • Detroit,
Michigan 48214 • 313.926.5291 •
www.uaw.org
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