In 2020, workers agreed to a three-year contract extension with minimal wage increases and since then casino workers have received 3% raises, according to a news release.Ĭhanett Watson, foreground, chants 'If we don't get it, shut it down' with Terri Smith, left, and Demetra Montague, right, while on strike with coworkers outside of the Greektown Casino in downtown Detroit on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. The union says Detroit casino workers bore the brunt of heavier workloads, with fewer staff, after the pandemic. The union is made up of 3,700 members employed as casino dealers, cleaning staff, food and beverage workers, valets and engineers. The Detroit Casino Council, comprised of five union locals, rejected a final proposal from the companies late Tuesday morning over concerns about protecting health care, job security and wage increases. Thousands of Detroit Casino workers, represented by the Detroit Casino Council, are on strike after failed negotiations with the city’s three casinos – MGM Grand, MotorCity and Hollywood Casino at Greektown. Here’s a roundup of some of the labor activity brewing across industries in the region: Detroit casino workers When you start not being able to feed your family, it’s a problem,” said Maisha Blessett, 50 of Detroit, a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan employee who was on the picket line Wednesday. “Companies, businesses - they need to pay attention because people are tired.

Earlier this year, some 2,000 graduate student workers at the University of Michigan went on strike in the spring and reached a contract just before classes started, and workers last week at General Dynamics who have voted to authorize a strike last week.Īcross the board, workers are demanding higher wages and improved benefits, from health care to retirement - in some cases to see previous concessions restored.

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