At City Hall, Casino Workers Call for “Detroit Strikers Bill of Rights” to Ensure Health and Safety of Picketers as Temperatures Drop
MEDIA ADVISORY for November 7, 2023 at 10:00am
Contact: Annemarie Strassel at 312-617-0495
At City Hall, Casino Workers Call for “Detroit Strikers Bill of Rights” to Ensure Health and Safety of Picketers as Temperatures Drop
Workers applaud city leaders for their support of striking casino workers seeking a fair contract
WHAT: Striking Detroit casino workers to join Detroit City Council proceedings to thank Councilors for their support and testify in favor of measures that ensure strikers’ health and safety as the strike enters its 4th week
WHEN: Tuesday, November 7, 10:00am
WHO: Striking Detroit casino workers—dealers, cleaning staff, food and beverage workers, valets, engineers and more—who staff Hollywood at Greektown Casino, MGM Grand Detroit, and MotorCity Casino. Workers are members of the five unions that comprise the Detroit Casino Council (DCC): UNITE HERE Local 24, United Auto Workers Local 7777, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters.
WHERE: City Council Chambers (Coleman A. Young Municipal Center), 2 Woodward Ave #1340, Detroit, MI 48226
VISUALS: Striking workers wearing blue union coalition shirts and cold weather gear
INTERVIEWS: Strikers and union officials are available for interviews. Please contact to coordinate.
WHY: As Detroit casino workers head into their fourth week on strike against Detroit’s profitable gaming industry, workers are calling for a “Detroit Strikers Bill of Rights” to protect the health and safety of people forced to walk the picket lines. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, workers will share their stories and present a “Detroit Strikers Bill of Rights” with provisions designed to keep protestors safe, such as the right to move safely and the right to take measures to stay warm.
Detroit casino workers are exercising their legal right to strike. With daylight saving time over, days growing shorter and nights colder, employers should be working constructively towards a strong agreement. Recently, strikers have received essential items from the community, such as food, diapers, warm winter gear, and warming devices. Notably, supporters have been dropping off firewood and small propane heaters since temperatures have dropped.
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 3700 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. The Detroit City Council publicly pledged their support of striking casino workers, passing a resolution in support on Oct. 24.
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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.