Soaring Eagle Casino's Housekeeping Employees Turn Down Teamsters By Wide Margin

The housekeeping employees at the Soaring Eagle Casino voted against representation by the Teamsters union by a wide margin. The vote was 192-88 against Teamsters representation. The election, held on December 21, 2007, was held after the National Labor Relations Board ruled that it had jurisdiction over organizing efforts at Native American casinos.

Teamsters Seek To Organize Soaring Eagle Employees

As noted previously, the Teamsters union has filed a request with the National Labor Relations Board to organize the employees at the Soaring Eagle Casino Resort in Mt. Pleasant.

The casino is owned by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, which is also building a second casino near Standish, Michigan, to be called Saganing Eagle's Landing Casino, which is scheduled to open December 31, 2007.

Greektown Workers Ratify New Contract

With an 85% affirmative vote, unionized members at Greektown Casino became the third and final casino to approve a new four year contract with the casino. The contract includes 4% pay increases each year of the contract, enhanced 401(k) contributions, and a lump sum $1,200 bonus per worker.

Unions And Greektown Casino Reach Tentative Contract Agreement

The Detroit Casino Council, a consortium of the four unions that represent workers at the three Detroit casinos, reached a tentative agreement with Greektown Casino.

The ratification vote of union members will occur on Thursday, November 15, 2007.

Unions And MGM Grand Detroit Reach Tentative Contract Agreement

The Detroit Casino Council, a consortium of the four unions that represent workers at the three Detroit casinos, reached a tentative agreement with MGM Grand Detroit Casino on Thursday, leaving only Greektown Casino without an agreement with the Council.

The ratification vote of union members will occur on Monday, October 29, 2007.

MotorCity Union Contract Ratified

A new four year contract between the Detroit Casino Council and the MotorCity Casino was ratified by the member unions on Monday, October 22, 2007. Contract negotiations are continuing with MGM Grand Detroit and Greektown Casinos.

MotorCity Prepares To Close As Strike Looms

The contract extension by the Detroit Casino Council, the group of unions representing workers at the three Detroit Casinos, with MotorCity Casino expires at noon today.

In light of the pending strike deadline, numerous media outlets are reporting that the casino is being emptied of patrons.

However, as of this moment, no picket lines have been reported outside of the casino.

Detroit Casinos Negotiate With Unions; Contract Extended

The three Detroit casinos, MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity, and Greektown, continue to negotiate with the unions comprising the Detroit Casino Council. The collective bargaining agreement was set to expire this evening, but the parties have agreed to extend the contract while negotiations continue, with the union committing to give 72 hours notice before a strike.

The Detroit Casino Council is targeting MotorCity in its negotiations, apparently hoping to use the MotorCity contract as the pattern for the remaining two casinos.

UPDATE: Apparently, the media reports were inaccurate, the extension granted to the MotorCity Casino was only through noon on Wednesday, October 17, 2007.

Teamsters Seek Organizing Vote At Soaring Eagle

The Teamsters are seeking to organize the Soaring Eagle workforce. The union has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board seeking to organize the hotel and casino employees at the casino and resort.

Casino Workers Vote On Strike Authorization?

Apparently, the new collective bargaining agreement for workers at all three Detroit Casinos is being negotiated, and the unionized casino workers (including dealers) are voting to authorize a strike to begin October 16, 2007.

At least, that is what WDIV-TV is reporting. I have found no coverage of this issue elsewhere, and the local broadcast media has the journalistic chops of a junior high monthly student newspaper, so I guess until I get more verification, take this with a grain of salt. WDIV-TV has a video report up on this story as well.