Riverboat Workers Overwhelmingly Approve New Deal

Gary, IN-Yesterday, riverboat workers voted to ratify new contracts at Majestic Star and Trump, averting a strike at the two casinos.

Workers at Majestic Star Casino voted by 78% to ratify a new contract covering 75 service workers there. A tentative agreement had been reached on January 13th.

Trump workers ratified their contract by a margin of 92%. A tentative agreement had been reached at Trump on January 14th, covering 150 workers.

“We achieved major improvements in this new contract,” says Jerri Elliott, a Trump housekeeper and member of the union negotiating committee. “I was happy to recommend this agreement to my coworkers.”

Details of the new contract will not be released until all casinos have voted to ratify their tentative agreements. Harrah’s East Chicago workers voted by an 86% margin to ratify their contract on January 20th. Blue Chip workers will vote on Wednesday, January 26th.

An agreement has not yet been reached at Buffington Harbor Pavilion, which is jointly managed by Majestic Star and Trump Casinos. Negotiations will resume shortly.

UNITE HERE Local 1 represents 850 riverboat workers in northwest Indiana.