Today, UNITE HERE, the largest union of gaming workers in the United States, warned union members in Ohio that the backers of Issue 6 oppose unionization of the proposed casino. In addition, UNITE HERE called on Lakes Entertainment (NASDAQ:LACO), the operator of the proposed casino, to fully disclose to voters the wages and benefits paid at its non-union casinos throughout the country.
'The proponents of Issue 6 claim that they have labor's support for their project, but the backers of Issue 6 have flatly rejected the process in which the vast majority of gaming workers in the United States have joined a union,' said Chris Bohner, UNITE HERE Deputy Director.
Most union workers in the gaming industry have joined a union through the card check election process, rather than the government-run process with long bureaucratic delays rejected by many unions. Under the card check process, if a majority of workers elect to sign cards in favor of a union, and a neutral arbitrator concludes that the union represents a majority of workers, the company voluntarily recognizes the union.
'The two largest labor federations in the country - the AFL-CIO and Change to Win - strongly support card check elections, but the backers of Issue 6 say they don't support this method,' said Bohner. 'What Issue 6 backers are really saying is we don't want a union,' added Bohner.
Lakes Entertainment operates the Red Hawk Casino in Michigan, one of the largest non-union casinos in the northern Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois gaming markets.
'MyOhioNow and Lakes Entertainment say they'll bring good jobs to Ohio, but they need to disclose the wages and benefits they are currently providing at their non-union casinos in the United States,' said Bohner. UNITE HERE called on Lakes to publicly disclose the following information: wages by classification, eligibility rules and cost of health insurance, pension and retirement contributions, percentage of part-time versus full-time workers, and layoff and seniority rights of workers at the company's casinos.
'Union workers in Ohio know that companies make all sorts of promises, but talk is cheap,' said Bohner. 'If Lakes Entertainment is really committed to bring good jobs to Ohio, then surely they won't be afraid of disclosing the wages and benefits at their non-union casinos,' added Bohner.
UNITE HERE is the largest gaming union in the United States, representing over 100,000 workers across the country. In addition, UNITE HERE represents thousands of workers in the State of Ohio.
