It was unclear if the casinos had hired temporary workers or how many employees would continue to report for work amid the strike. They picked up signs stating “Detroit Casino Workers Need a Raise” and “Don’t Gamble with our Future.” As they marched throughout the casino, they chanted “No contract, no peace” and “If we don’t get it, shut it down.”
When the strike was announced, hundreds of workers at MGM Grand Detroit left their posts, according to the Detroit News. Negotiations had been ongoing for a month. Dealers, cleaning staff, food and beverage workers, valets, engineers and other workers at MGM Grand, MotorCity Casino Hotel and Hollywood Casino at Greektown want wages that keep up with inflation, retirement security and technology protections.
The contract was supposed to end 12 hours earlier but was extended as talks continued. Union workers at Detroit’s three casinos went on strike at noon on Tuesday, October 17 after negotiators for the casinos and unions representing 3,700 workers failed to reach an agreement.
