Strikes at casinos in Detroit will continue despite the recently announced tentative contract by the Detroit Casino Council, as union members who work at the MGM Grand Detroit voted against the labour deal.
Last Friday, the Detroit Casino Council of five unions – UNITE HERE Local 24, UAW Local 7777, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters – announced that a tentative five-year deal that could bring an end to the strikes.
The contract included the largest wage increase ever negotiated in Detroit’s 23-year casino history, an immediate average pay rise of 18 per cent, no health care cost increases for employees, workload reductions and other job protections, first-ever technology contract language, retirement increases and more.
While the 2,100 employees at Hollywood Casino at Greektown and MotorCity Casino who are part of the union have voted to ratify the contract, union workers at MGM Grand Casino have voted against it and will continue their strike that has been in place since October 17.
Further bargaining dates will be scheduled for MGM Grand Casino union members, but the reason as to why the members rejected the deal has not been made public.
Detroit Casino Council represents 3,700 casino dealers, cleaning staff, valets and food staff at the Motor City’s three casinos – MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino and Hollywood Casino at Greektown.
