A wave of strikes swept through the heart of Detroit’s vibrant casino industry on Tuesday. A staggering 3,700 workers from various gaming properties, including the famed MotorCity Casino, downed tools in a remarkable stance against unfair remuneration.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with her union colleagues, Jamie Johnson, a seasoned server at MGM Grand Detroit, became one of the countless determined faces of the industrial action.
The impromptu worker insurrection has forced MotorCity Casino to dramatically scale back its services. The usually bustling first-floor slots, high-stake table games, and poker room now eerily silent. The aftermath also saw the FanDuel Sportsbook fall silent, no longer accepting wagers in person or at its usually busy kiosks.
In a cascading wave of closures, several dining establishments with their pulsating bars and the once-bustling valet areas followed suit.
Amid the sea of picket signs at MGM Grand Detroit, their once vibrant casino and hotel valet sections fell eerily silent due to the employee walkout. Hollywood Casino also sported a subdued atmosphere, with reduced services striking nearly every corner of the property.
Despite the halted operations, casino representatives claim generous proposals have been offered to the striking workers. Hollywood Casino shared a subdued note of disappointement, underscoring the magnitude of their proposed settlements. Similarly, MGM’s Midwest Group President, Matt Buckley, pointed out the organization’s record-breaking pay increase.
Yet, the strikers remain adamant. Workers like Susan Gallagher, a bartender at Hollywood Casino at Greektown, do not view the situation as entitlement but as a quest for survival. Others, like Johanna Lams, a table games dealer at MGM, believe the company’s proposals fall short in the face of ramping inflation. Her stark revelation that many MGM workers sleep in cars due to low wages starkly underscores the severity of the situation.
As the deadlock rumbles on, negotiations between the DCC and the casinos have not yielded a resolution since their initiation in September 2021. A vast proportion of casino workers have authorized potential strike action in the face of unsuccessful contract negotiations.
Despite the grim scenario, striking workers maintain their conviction, resolute in their pursuit of fair wages. Similar industrial actions are also being carried out by various United Auto Workers members across Michigan and other states.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the nation, casino workers in Las Vegas are carrying on an informational picket at several casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. The Culinary and Bartenders Union state that a staggering 95% of their workers have voted to authorize a strike action if negotiations for a new contract fall through.
As we at the West Island Blog continue to monitor the ongoing labor disputes affecting casino workers, we also strive to keep our readers in the loop about the latest in online gaming entertainment. If you’re Canadian love to gamble but prefer to do so from the comfort of your own home, look no further. We’ve prepared a comprehensive list of the best online casinos available this month. Whether you love the thrill of slots or the strategy of card games, find your perfect online casino today.
