Union Members at Hollywood Casino and MotorCity Ratify Agreement with Casinos, Winning Highest Wage Increase in History of Detroit Casino Industry

Detroit, MI – Union members affiliated with the Detroit Casino Council at Hollywood Casino at Greektown and MotorCity Casino have voted to ratify a new contract with historic wage increases and other gains. The successful ratification triggers the end of the 34-day strike at both properties, effective tonight (11/19/23) at 9:00pm.

Union members at MGM Grand Casino voted to reject the proposed deal and will continue to strike. More bargaining dates will be scheduled. Membership at each casino property voted separately about whether to accept the deal.

The historic five-year tentative agreements with Hollywood Casino at Greektown and MotorCity Casino cover 2100 employees and include the largest wage increases ever negotiated in the Detroit casino industry’s 23-year history, no health care cost increases for employees, workload reductions and other job protections, first-ever technology contract language and more. Upon ratification, workers will receive an immediate $3 an hour raise (average 18% wage increase in Year One) and $5 an hour total raises over the life of the contract. *See below for more contract highlights.*

On 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, housekeepers and other cleaning staff, food and beverage workers, valets, engineers, and more. It was the first casino strike in Detroit history and the first wall-to-wall casino strike in American history.

The historic agreements come after years of hardship that Detroit casino workers have endured after sacrificing raises and shouldering heavier workloads so the industry could stay open during the pandemic. Since that time, Detroit’s gaming industry revenues have hit record highs. Workers went on strike, demanding large wage increases in the face of high inflation and other job protections.

The settlements at Hollywood Casino at Greektown and MotorCity Casino represent another win for union workers nationwide fighting for economic justice with a historic wave of strikes that have resulted in big gains for American workers across many industries.

Five unions comprise the Detroit Casino Council: UNITE HERE Local 24, UAW Local 7777, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters.

By striking, Detroit Casino Council unions at Hollywood Casino at Greektown and MotorCity Casino have moved the industry towards a new standard:

• Winning the largest wage increases ever negotiated in the history of the Detroit casino industry, including a $3/hr. raise up front (average 18% wage increase in Year One), $5/hr. over the life of the contract
• Protecting the healthcare standard that Detroit casino unions have built over two decades with NO increased costs to employees or plan changes
• Reducing workloads in housekeeping and other classifications that have resulted from 1500 fewer workers post pandemic
• Securing first-ever technology protections to guarantee advanced notification when new technology is introduced that impacts jobs, require training for new jobs created by technology, and provide health care and severance pay for workers who are laid off because of new technology
• First-ever 401k employer match program up to $1,000 in Year Two
• Paid Juneteenth Holiday

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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