Detroit Casinos Reach Agreement to End Strike

On Friday Detroit's Casino Council announced that they've reached a tenative agreement with workers unions at Detroit's three casinos, affecting 3,700 employees.

The strike has hindered operations at the MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino, and Hollywood Casino at Greektown, and involves the unions of Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters, UAW, Teamsters Local 1038, UNITE HERE Local 24, and Operating Engineers. Workers are seeking higher wages, better healthcare, better workloads, and retirement plan protection.

While employees are on strike, the casinos have remained open. This has come with a cost though, as revenues in October were down 19% from the month prior.

Workers at the MotorCity Casino and Hollywood Casino voted to approve of the new deal, ending their strikes. Workers at the MGM Grand Detroit rejected the new deal, and are continuing to strike as of Monday morning.

Regarding the rejection, MGM Resorts Midwest Group COO Matt Buckley said, "This is a very disappointing result, especially considering the historic nature of our offer and the fact that it would immediately and positively benefit our DCC-represented MGM Grand employees and their families.

"It's also disappointing because the other two Detroit casinos voted 'yes' on ratification. All employees were voting on the exact same contract, which the DCC itself said was 'a historic investment in Detroit's future' and 'fulfills the gaming industry's promise to Detroit of high-paying casino jobs with good benefits.'"

Casino Listings News is following this story and will update readers when resolution to the MGM Grand strike is reached.