For Release: Monday, October 15, 2007

Detroit Casino Council to focus contract talks at Motor City Casino

The Detroit Casino Council (DCC) today announced it would focus contract talks this week at Motor City Casino, where a labor agreement covering workers is set to expire at 11:59 p.m., Oct. 16.

The DCC includes members of the UAW, UNITE HERE, Operating Engineers, Teamsters and Carpenters unions.

“It’s great news that casinos are expanding in Detroit, bringing jobs, investment and people to our downtown,” said UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles, who directs the union’s Technical, Office and Professional (TOP) Department.

“The dealers, drivers, housekeepers, wait staff, building operators and other workers who make up the Detroit Casino Council have been key to the success of the gaming industry in our city since the very beginning,” said Settles. “Our focus in the next few days will be to reach an agreement that recognizes what workers have contributed, and keeps the industry moving forward.”

Motor City Casino, Greektown Casino and MGM Grand, which began operations in Detroit in 1999, are currently investing a combined total of more than $1.2 billion to expand their facilities in Detroit.

Workers at all three chose to form their own unions shortly after the casinos began operating in Detroit. Workers at MGM Grand and Motor City Casino and reached their first labor agreements in 2000, and workers at Greektown Casino negotiated their first agreement in 2001. Workers at all three casinos reached new agreements with their employers in 2003.