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Striking Detroit Casino Workers Call for Boycotts of Online Betting Platforms FanDuel, ESPN BET, Hollywood iCasino, and BetMGM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—November 10, 2023
Contact: Meghan Cohorst, [email protected], 239-503-1533

Striking Detroit Casino Workers Call for Boycotts of Online Betting Platforms FanDuel, ESPN BET, Hollywood iCasino, and BetMGM

Online ad campaign to target users who may not be aware that platforms are affiliated with three casinos where workers have been forced on strike since October 17

DETROIT—The Detroit Casino strike is extending into cyberspace. Today, the Detroit Casino Council (DCC) is calling on the public to boycott four sports betting and online casino platforms associated with the three casinos where workers have been forced on strike: FanDuel (MotorCity Casino), soon-to-be-launched ESPN BET and Hollywood iCasino (Hollywood Casino at Greektown), and BetMGM (MGM Grand Detroit).

In conjunction with the boycott, the DCC will launch a digital ad campaign on Monday, November 13, targeting users of the online platforms to inform them of the ongoing labor disputes and encourage them not to use the apps until Detroit’s casino industry offers their workers fair wages and benefits and workers are no longer on strike. Some users of online sports betting and casino apps may be unaware that workers at the brick-and-mortar casinos that hold online gambling licenses in Michigan are on strike.

On Tuesday, Oct. 17, unionized casino workers at MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino, and Hollywood Casino at Greektown launched a wall-to-wall strike affecting 3,700 casino workers, including dealers, cleaning staff, food and beverage workers, valets, engineers, and more. Workers have been forced on strike to protect their healthcare and improve wages that are not keeping up with the cost of living, along with improved job security and fair workloads. It is the first casino strike in Detroit history.

“Online sports betting and online casino platforms like FanDuel, ESPN BET, and BetMGM are critical sources of revenue for the companies that operate Detroit’s three casinos,” said Nia Winston, President of UNITE HERE Local 24. “Workers have been outside the physical locations 24/7 since going out on strike three weeks ago to win a fair contract. Now, they’re calling on the public not to cross their virtual picket line either, and to boycott these apps until the strike is settled.”

Other apps such as Caesars Sportsbook, Caesars Palace Online Casino, WynnBET, DraftKings, Sports Illustrated Sportsbook, and others are not part of the boycott.

Detroit’s casino workers sacrificed raises and shouldered heavier workloads so the industry could recover from the pandemic. In September 2020, workers agreed to a three-year contract extension with minimal wage increases to help the industry get back on its feet. Since then, Detroit casino workers have received only 3% raises, but inflation in Detroit has risen 20%. In contrast, industry gaming revenues have now surpassed pre-pandemic levels to reach a new record high. In 2022, the Detroit casino industry generated $2.27 billion in gaming revenue from in-person and online gaming, and the industry is on track for another record-breaking year in 2023.

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The Detroit Casino Council (DCC) is UNITE HERE Local 24, the UAW, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters. These five unions represent most of the workers at the three casinos in Detroit: Hollywood Casino at Greektown, MGM Grand Detroit, and MotorCity Casino. Our members work in food and beverage, housekeeping, retail outlets, slots and table games, engineering and more. The DCC partner unions are part of International Unions that have experience representing gaming workers and winning great contracts throughout the United States, including in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

300+ Striking Casino Workers Head to Michigan State Capitol for Support

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—October 31, 2023
Contact: Meghan Cohorst, [email protected], 239-503-1533

300+ Striking Casino Workers Head to Michigan State Capitol for Support

After launching a citywide casino strike on Oct. 17, Detroit’s casino workers call on state leaders to join their picket line and pass legislation supporting all working people in Michigan

Lansing, MI — More than 300 striking Detroit casino workers traveled to Lansing today to speak with state leaders at Michigan’s State Capitol about the strike and other important legislation impacting all working people in Michigan.

On October 17, casino workers who are members of the Detroit Casino Council – five unions working in coalition – launched a citywide casino strike affecting MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino and Hollywood Casino at Greektown. Detroit Casino workers were forced onto the picket line to protect their healthcare and win decent raises, fair workloads, and more job security. The wall-to-wall strike affects 3,700 casino employees across a broad range of classifications including dealers, cleaning staff, food and beverage workers, valets, engineers and more.

Today in Lansing, striking workers are appealing to Michigan leaders to join them on the picket line and allow Detroit to raise its minimum wage by repealing the “Death Star” bill, SB171, which would repeal preemptions on local government control of labor and workforce policies. The bill was passed by members of the Senate Labor Committee in September.

In September 2020, workers agreed to a three-year contract extension with minimal wage increases to help the industry recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, Detroit casino workers have received only 3% raises, but inflation in Detroit has risen 20%. In contrast, industry gaming revenues have now surpassed pre-pandemic levels to reach a new record high. In 2022, the Detroit casino industry generated $2.27 billion in gaming revenue and is on track for another record-breaking year in 2023.

“We’re asking Michigan leaders to join us on the picket line because the wages we receive absolutely do not keep up with the rising cost of living,” said Terri Smith, a table games dealer at Hollywood Casino at Greektown and member of UAW Local 777. “We’re out here fighting for our families and for more good jobs in Michigan.”

“We’re on strike to maintain our healthcare and to have a livable wage. There’s no reason for anybody to be working in these casinos and be homeless,” said Alicia Weaver, a 24-year guest room attendant at MGM Grand Detroit and member of UNITE HERE Local 24.

“Our employers are making record profits. We want to maintain our healthcare and improve our wages so that they keep up with the rising costs of living,” said Shataya Thompson, a valet cashier at MotorCity Casino and a member of Teamsters Local 1038. “We’re asking our elected officials to understand that all we want is a fair contract.”

Detroit’s casino workers are winning support from other community leaders. Last week, the Detroit City Council unanimously passed a resolution backing unionized casino workers at the MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino and Hollywood Casino at Greektown in their struggle for a fair contract.

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The Detroit Casino Council (DCC) is UNITE HERE Local 24, the UAW, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters. These five unions represent most of the workers at the three casinos in Detroit: Hollywood Casino at Greektown, MGM Grand Detroit, and MotorCity Casino. Our members work in food and beverage, housekeeping, retail outlets, slots and table games, engineering and more. The DCC partner unions are part of International Unions that have experience representing gaming workers and winning great contracts throughout the United States, including in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

Detroit City Council Unanimously Passes Resolution Supporting Striking Casino Workers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—October 24, 2023
Contact: Annemarie Strassel at 312-617-0495

Detroit City Council Unanimously Passes Resolution Supporting Striking Casino Workers

The resolution expresses solidarity with striking workers, “recognizes that working people deserve respect, adequate workplace protections, and the right to a living wage.”

Casino workers launched a citywide strike one week ago

Read the full city council resolution >>

DETROIT—The Detroit City Council unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday morning in support of unionized casino workers at the MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino and Hollywood Casino at Greektown. One week ago, workers launched a wall-to-wall strike affecting 3,700 casino employees across a broad range of classifications including dealers, cleaning staff, food and beverage workers, valets, engineers and more.

Hundreds of members of the five unions who are striking together at Detroit’s three casinos packed Detroit City Council’s big auditorium wearing blue union coalition shirts. Workers from all three casinos presented public testimony, calling on members of the City Council to vote in favor of a resolution supporting Detroit casino workers on strike for a fair contract.

When Detroit’s casinos were first approved in 1998, the casino owners signed agreements with the City of Detroit to ensure good jobs in Detroit’s casino industry. In the time since, Detroit’s casino workers sacrificed raises and shouldered heavier workloads so the industry could recover from the pandemic.

“When the casinos decided to open in Detroit, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for me. They promoted a fabulous package of making a substantial amount of money, low cost of healthcare, and decent contributions to a 401k: it was what I was looking for,” said Kim Syfax, a 21-year table games dealer at Hollywood Casino at Greektown and chairperson of UAW Local 7777, who spoke in support of the resolution. “As of now, the wages we receive absolutely do not keep up with the rising cost of living. That’s why we’re asking you to support us, and to stand with us.”

“I came today to ask City Council to support our strike as we try to maintain our healthcare,” said Shataya Thompson, a valet cashier at MotorCity Casino and member of Teamsters Local 1038, who also spoke in support of the resolution. “I’m a mother and wife, and I am currently pregnant with my third child. I am considered high risk, and this past weekend I spent three days in the hospital. Maintaining my healthcare is the most important thing for me.”

“I stand before you today to ask you to support us and our strike. We all would like to maintain our healthcare and to have a livable wage. There’s no reason for anybody to be working in these casinos and be homeless,” said Alicia Weaver, a 24-year guest room attendant at MGM Grand Detroit and member of UNITE HERE Local 24, testifying before the members of Detroit’s City Council. “Most importantly, we want you to understand the work that we do every day to help create the revenue that comes into the City of Detroit. I want you to make sure that these companies recognize our work, and that it’s time for them to take care of us.”

In September 2020, workers agreed to a three-year contract extension with minimal wage increases to help the industry recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, Detroit casino workers have received only 3% raises, but inflation in Detroit has risen 20%. In contrast, industry gaming revenues have now surpassed pre-pandemic levels to reach a new record high. In 2022, the Detroit casino industry generated $2.27 billion in gaming revenue and is on track for another record-breaking year in 2023.

After months of negotiations with casino operators failed to produce a fair contract, Detroit Casino workers were forced onto the picket line last week to protect their healthcare and win decent raises, fair workloads, and more job security.

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The Detroit Casino Council (DCC) is UNITE HERE Local 24, UAW Local 7777, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters. These five unions represent most of the workers at the three casinos in Detroit: Hollywood Casino at Greektown, MGM Grand Detroit, and MotorCity Casino. Our members work in food and beverage, housekeeping, retail outlets, slots and table games, engineering and more. The DCC partner unions are part of International Unions that have experience representing gaming workers and winning great contracts throughout the United States, including in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. For more information visit https://www.detroitcasinocouncil.org.

Detroit Casino Workers Strike After Casinos Play Hardball on Wages, Healthcare

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—October 17, 2023
Contact: Meghan Cohorst, 239-503-1533, [email protected];
Annemarie Strassel, 312-617-0495, [email protected]

Workers made sacrifices to keep the industry afloat amidst the pandemic, call for their fair share as industry booms

DETROIT—Thousands of union casino workers are on strike today after months of full-table negotiations and meetings by department failed to result in a deal with the city’s three casinos. The workers, represented by the Detroit Casino Council (DCC), are seeking contract improvements after years of pandemic hardship, but casino management remains unwilling to deliver a fair contract for workers.

The union worked all night to prepare revised proposals in the hopes of averting a strike. The companies came back with a final proposal late Tuesday morning that the unions rejected based on five core concerns that the companies’ offer failed to meet, including protecting healthcare, winning job security/technology language that already exists in other casino markets, improving the value of retirement where there has been no increase in eight years, reducing the high workloads that have resulted from 1500 fewer jobs post pandemic, and securing significant wage increases to make up for the ones workers sacrificed during the pandemic.

The strike has a wall-to-wall impact on operations at the MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino, and Hollywood Casino at Greektown, involving 3,700 workers employed in positions throughout the properties including dealers, cleaning staff, food and beverage workers, valets, engineers and more.

“Making the decision to strike is never easy, but it’s past time for the workers who keep Detroit’s casinos running to get their fair share,” said Nia Winston, President of UNITE HERE Local 24, the union of hospitality workers in Detroit. “The city’s big three casino operators are earning more than ever, and we’re prepared to stay out on strike until we get what we deserve.”

“The company is offering us nickels and dimes, and they want us to pay more for healthcare,” says Terri Sykes, a dealer at MotorCity Casino with 24 years of service and President of UAW Local 7777. “As a two-time breast cancer survivor, I’m fighting to protect our health care. These companies are making more than ever, and it’s time they respect us for all the sacrifices we made to keep the doors open during the pandemic.”

“I’m a mother of two and will welcome my third child by the end of the year. I’m willing to go on strike to fight for what my family and I need,” said Shataya Thompson, a valet cashier at MotorCity Casino and member of Teamsters Local 1038. “We need a fair contract that guarantees good wages that keep up with inflation and also protects our healthcare.”

“There are 1,500 fewer people working in Detroit casinos, but there is the same amount of work to do.  I can’t always take a lunch break or enjoy my hard-earned vacation time,” said Milledge McCaster, a 14-year Lead Engineer at Hollywood Casino at Greektown and member of Operating Engineers Local 324. “During the pandemic, we made sacrifices to help the industry, but now that they are making more money than ever, they’ve forgotten that.”

“We are fighting from Detroit to Vegas, from Biloxi to Pennsylvania ,to raise wages and standards for casino workers,” said Gwen Mills, Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE HERE International Union, the union of North American hospitality workers.  “Hospitality workers overall across the US and Canada kept the doors open during the pandemic, risking their health and forgoing raises.  Now they are striking in Detroit, Los Angeles and Vancouver, along with hundreds of thousands of other workers from other industries, demanding a share in the prosperity that the hospitality industry is currently experiencing.”

Detroit’s casino workers sacrificed raises and shouldered heavier workloads so the industry could recover from the pandemic. In September 2020, workers agreed to a three-year contract extension with minimal wage increases to help the industry get back on its feet. Since then, Detroit casino workers have received only 3% raises, but inflation in Detroit has risen 20%.

In contrast, industry gaming revenues have now surpassed pre-pandemic levels to reach a new record high. In 2022, the Detroit casino industry generated $2.27 billion in gaming revenue and is on track for another record-breaking year in 2023. The three Detroit casinos collectively reported $813 million more in total gaming revenues in 2022 than in 2019, but total wages paid to workers represented by the DCC were $34 million less when comparing those same years.

According to a report released by the DCC on Monday, each day of a strike could put approximately $738,000 in city and state tax revenues and $3.4 million in casino operator revenues at risk. For the City of Detroit, this wagering tax is a critical source of revenue used to fund job creation, public safety, economic development, and youth development programs. In 2022, the wagering tax was the City’s second highest revenue source, even surpassing property taxes.

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The Detroit Casino Council (DCC) is UNITE HERE Local 24, the UAW, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters. These five unions represent most of the workers at the three casinos in Detroit: Hollywood Casino at Greektown, MGM Grand Detroit, and MotorCity Casino. Our members work in food and beverage, housekeeping, retail outlets, slots and table games, engineering and more. The DCC partner unions are part of International Unions that have experience representing gaming workers and winning great contracts throughout the United States, including in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.