Casinos in Detriot forced to close down due to employee strike

A strike by thousands of Detroit casino employees, organized by the Detroit Casino Council (DCC), forced the temporary shutdown of many gambling establishments, including MotorCity Casino.

The high-limit table games, the FanDuel Sportsbook, the poker room, and the first-floor slots at MotorCity Casino have all been temporarily closed. Along with the valet area, a few restaurants and bars are closed.

The walkout forced Hollywood Casino in Greektown to cut down on several of its services, including closing the valet and perhaps reducing restaurant hours and beverage service. MGM Grand Detroit also had to shut down its casino and hotel valet services.

Representatives from the casinos claim to have presented the striking employees with lucrative offers. Hollywood Casino said that in order to secure the prosperity of its employees and company, it has extended offers of progressive settlement. The new offer from MGM Grand Detroit contains what they claim to be the biggest pay raise in the casino’s history.

The striking employees contend that their demands are necessary and acceptable. Since many individuals are now doing numerous jobs to make ends meet, they desire improved working conditions and remuneration to enable them to sustain themselves with only one job.

Since September, the DCC and the casinos have been in contract negotiations, and a sizable majority of employees approved the walkout. The Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters, Teamsters Local 1038, Unite Here Local 24, the UAW, and Operating Engineers Local 324 make up the DCC.

There is a broader trend of labor issues in the US, and this strike in Detroit is one of them. For instance, in Michigan and other states, some 34,000 United Auto Workers employees are on strike. The Culinary and Bartenders Union in Las Vegas has said that should contract discussions with casino operators fail to result in a good deal, 95% of its members have approved a walkout.

Original story by: Casino.org