Detroit Casino Workers Vote to Strike

Casino workers in the Motor City could walk off the job later this month if their demands for higher wages aren't met, as the unions representing the three casinos' employees voted in favor of a strike last week.

The five unions that represent the employees at MotorCity Casino Hotel, MGM Grand Detroit, and Hollywood Casino at Greektown saw employees vote in favor of a strike with a 99% margin in favor. Unions representing employees at the casinos include UNITE HERE Local 24, UAW, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324 and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters.

Employees are seeking higher wages, as they claim their workload during the Covid-19 pandemic increased due to fewer workers being present. The unions and casinos have been negotiating since September, and employees could walk off the job if a deal isn't reached by October 16th.

If the casinos are forced to close, Michigan gamblers could turn to online gambling, as there are several online casinos and sportsbooks active in the state. Gamblers could also cross the river into Windsor, Canada to gamble at Caesars Windsor.

Regarding the vote, UNITE HERE Local 24 president Nia Winston said, "Workers are fed up in an economy that is broken: Costs keep going up, but when profits came back to the gaming industry, they didn't go into workers' pockets. Just like auto workers, Blue Cross Blue Shield staff, UPS workers, writers, and hotel workers, Detroit casino workers are considering all options available to make sure one job in a Detroit casino is enough to raise a family on. We expect the casinos to heed our concerns to avoid a strike."

Casino Listings News is following this story and will update readers as appropriate.