For Release: Wednesday, March 06, 2002

Detroit Casino Council Members Ratify Their First Contract with Greektown Casino

On Tuesday, March 5, 2002, the 1,700 members of the Detroit Casino Council (DCC), employed at the Greektown Casino in Detroit, Mich., ratified their first collective bargaining agreement with the casino. The Team Members overwhelmingly approved their agreement by a 98 percent margin. Voter turn-out exceeded 70 percent.

The Greektown Casino workers joined the DCC in April 2001 when the casino agreed to voluntary recognition of the union through a majority card check, eliminating a National Labor Relations Board certification vote.

The new agreement achieves parity across the board, including wages and other provisions, with workers covered by contracts previously negotiated at MGM Grand and MotorCity.

“The Detroit Casino Council achieved great contracts at the MGM Grand and MotorCity Casinos in October 2000. Today, through the combined strength of five great unions, all of the unionized gaming industry employees in Detroit are under the protective umbrella of patterned union contracts,” said UAW Vice President Elizabeth Bunn, the lead negotiator for the DCC during the Greektown negotiations.

The DCC has approximately 6,100 gaming industry members employed at the three Detroit casinos, and is a coalition of five labor unions composed of the International Union, UAW, the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE), the Operating Engineers, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters (MRCC).

Among the wall-to-wall unionized classifications at Greektown Casino, the UAW represents Dealers, Slot Technicians, Impressment Clerks, Pit Clerks, Cage Cashiers and Hard/Soft Count employees; HERE represents Food and Beverage, Slots and EVS workers; the Teamsters represent Valet, Warehouse and PBS employees, and MRCC represents the casino’s carpenters and other numerous classifications.

“The dedication and tireless efforts of our united negotiating team is to be commended,” said Tony Michael, MRCC President/Executive Director. “Five great unions came together to accomplish this task, and, in solidarity, we now look forward to a continued constructive relationship with the Greektown Casino management team.”

“Congratulations are in order to the Greektown bargaining team for negotiating parity with the two other Detroit casinos for their members in the face of protracted resistance from the other side of the table,” said Brian Mahon, president of HERE Local 24.

The new 19-month agreement provides immediate wage parity between Greektown Casino classifications and those at MGM Grand and MotorCity casinos, in addition to a $2,000 lump sum seniority parity bonus to Team Members with one year of service. Those with less than one year of service will receive the lump sum payment when they complete one year of service. Additionally, the contract provides for an across-the-board wage increase of 35 cents per hour or 3 percent, whichever is greater, on October 17, 2002.

“We’re happy this contract is providing immediate parity for all represented classifications and a $2,000 seniority parity bonus,” said Veronica Stephenson, Teamster international representative.

The contract also provides large cost savings for casino workers in the area of health care and dental care. Premium sharing costs were maintained and/or eliminated in many cases while benefits were increased.

“The Greektown negotiating team worked very hard to achieve a fair and equitable agreement for their members,” said Jacqeline Knowles, IUOE 547 business representative.

Additional contract provisions include seven paid holidays, gains in paid vacation time, paid sick time and bereavement time for Greektown Casino workers. The agreement also contains strong job security, seniority, promotions and transfer language, as well as a negotiated grievance procedure, including binding arbitration, to resolve workplace disputes.

The new 19-month Greektown agreement expires on October 17, 2003, to coincide with the contract expiration date at the other two Detroit casinos.

Contact: Earl Hartman, UAW Public Relations Department, (313) 926-5295