Strike-authorization vote taken among unionized Detroit casino workers

Jim Suhr

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2000 | 4:18 a.m.

DETROIT - Two days from another round of contract talks, bargainers for about 4,700 workers at Detroit's two casinos asked them Wednesday for permission to recommend a settlement or call for a strike.

"I think there's a good deal of frustration, and people would like to bring this to closure," said Phil Schloop, spokesman for the Detroit Casino Council, a labor coalition representing the MGM Grand Detroit and the MotorCity Casino workers.

"I don't think anyone's afraid to strike, but I don't think it's inevitable a strike has to happen," Schloop added as affected workers cast strike-authorization votes at the Masonic Temple of Detroit.

Voting results were not expected until Wednesday night, he said.

When asked about the likelihood of a strike as early as this weekend, Schloop said, "I'm really not in a position to answer that."

It was not immediately clear whether the casinos had a contingency plan if a walkout happens by the affected workers, who account for the majority of the more than 5,000 employees at the gambling halls.

An MGM Grand Detroit spokeswoman said that 13-month-old casino might comment about the matter later Wednesday. Messages left Wednesday with officials at MotorCity Casino, which opened in December, were not immediately returned.

Negotiators for a year have been trying to hash out the first contract for the largely hourly workers at the casinos, including "basically everyone but managers and supervisors" and security, Schloop said.

"As you know, first contracts are always most difficult because you have to bargain everything," he said.

With more talks planned Friday, he said, bargainers have resolved workplace issues and contract language but have not reached a middle ground on sticking points such as wages and benefits.

Schloop would not elaborate on the monetary issues, other than to say disparities between the wages and benefits at the two casinos have complicated talks.

Regardless, he said, "I think the unions all feel that a contract can be reached."

"It's certainly our intention to make those (talks Friday) a productive set of discussions," he said. "We intend at getting at it and staying focused."

Schloop's council is made up of bargaining units from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 372, the United Auto Workers, the Union of Operating Engineers and the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees union.

Detroit mayoral spokesman Greg Bowens said that though he has not been privy to the talks, "all we can do as a city administration is be optimistic that both sides will be able to reach a fair, equitable settlement - soon."

All the while, Schloop said his council has been organizing workers at the city's virtually finished, 2,400-employee Greektown Casino, awaiting state licensing and tentatively scheduled to open Nov. 10.

The council, Schloop said, "feels very strongly that all three casinos deserve good contracts and good representation."

Nelson Westrin, executive director of the regulatory Michigan Gaming Control Board, did not immediately return a telephone message Wednesday seeking comment about the labor talks.