SAN PABLO, Calif. – Lytton Rancheria of California has reached an agreement with the employees of the Tribe’s San Pablo Lytton Casino. These employees, who are members of UNITE HERE Local 2850, overwhelmingly ratified a new two-year Collective Bargaining Agreement. Tribe Chairperson Margie Mejia stated that while negotiations were long and sometimes difficult, in the end, "they produced an agreement that recognized the importance of the employees to the Casino and rewarded them for their loyalty and hard work." Chairperson Mejia went on to note that "the most important assets of the Casino are our employees and we wanted to recognize them as such."

The agreement provides for signing bonuses for all UNITE HERE employees, an immediate 4% wage increase, a 6% increase in the second year of the agreement, and increases in starting wage rates.

In addition, the agreement maintains existing employee contributions to their employer-provided health care insurance for the first year and provides that any insurance premium increases exceeding 20% in the second year of the agreement will be shared equally by the employees and the Casino. "I am so happy that we all came together because the affordable health care and guaranteed raises make a big difference for me and my three kids," said Gliceria Dizon, a housekeeper who has worked at the Casino for five years.

Local 2850 President Wei-Ling Huber said, "We’re delighted that we were able to roll up our sleeves over the past few months and reach an agreement that provides affordable health insurance, significant wage increases, and improvements in working conditions for the employees. We are confident that the collaborative relationship between UNITE HERE and the Tribe will continue to be very productive."

Patricia Gomes, a cocktail server who has been at the Casino for six years, said, “I’m glad that we are so strong and united. I feel so much more secure in my job, and now I believe we all have a future at the San Pablo Lytton Casino."