On August 29, 2012, the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB") issued a Complaint charging that Casino San Pablo has engaged in numerous unfair labor practices under Federal law.

The complaint charges that the casino has interfered with, restrained, and coerced employees in the exercise of their Federally-protected rights under the National Labor Relations Act ("NLRA"). The complaint also charges that the casino has failed and refused to bargain in good faith with UNITE HERE Local 2850, the union that represents food, beverage, and gaming employees at the casino.

The casino’s contract with Local 2850 expired in August 2009, and the complaint charges that Casino San Pablo management has unlawfully refused to meet with Local 2850 for the purpose of negotiating a new agreement.

Isidoro Saravia Ramos, an 11-year Utility Worker at the casino and committee leader of UNITE HERE Local 2850, said, "I am encouraged by this complaint issued by the Labor Board, and I hope that the tribal owners of our casino will begin to recognize how over the past few years the casino management has been blatantly walking all over our rights as workers."

A sample of the additional allegations included in the complaint by the NLRB General Counsel include that the casino has:

• unlawfully interrogated an employee;
• called the police on union representatives who were lawfully on casino property;
• failed and refused to provide the union with required information;
• maintained unlawful work rules;
• unlawfully failed to provide health benefits to a number of eligible employees;

This NLRB complaint comes as the casino continues to generate higher and higher revenues while workers wages have stagnated. In fiscal year 2010-2011, the casino had Gross Gaming Revenues of $181 million, while in 2010 the average wage for UNITE HERE Local 2850 members at the casino was only $9.50 an hour.

The complaint stems from multiple charges brought by UNITE HERE Local 2850 in February, April, and September of 2011. A hearing on the charges will take place on October 29, 2012 at Oakland Regional Office of the National Labor Relations Board.