A work stoppage that has affected Detroit's three major casinos may be nearing an end.
One of the five unions reported via X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday morning that the Detroit Casino Council (DCC) had reached a tentative agreement with the owners of Detroit's casino hotels, the MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino Hotel, and Hollywood Casino at Greektown.
"Best agreement in history of Detroit casino industry," tweeted Unite Here Local 24.
The other unions involved are the United Auto Workers, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters. If the deal is approved, it would end a strike that has lasted 32 days and was the only casino strike in Detroit's history.
In a joint statement, the DCC reported that the agreement included large wage increases, including an average 18 per cent hike upon ratification. It also included protection from workplace reductions, health care premiums remaining the same, and support for pensions.
The owners of the three casinos each put out statements expressing their pleasure at the agreements being reached.
"We’re pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with the DCC on a new contract that ends the strike while giving a historic pay increase to our DCC-represented employees,” said Matt Buckley, President and COO, Midwest Group, MGM Resorts International, as reported by WXYZ-TV.
"We take pride in providing exceptional jobs and benefits that support and reward our dedicated workforce, and we look forward to ratification of the deal," said MotorCity Casino Hotel President Bruce Dall.
"We are happy that a mutually beneficial agreement was reached that positively positions our team members and business for success well into the future," said John Drake, Vice President and General Manager at Hollywood Casino at Greektown.
Some 3,700 workers walked off the job on October 17 after the previous deal expired. Legalized gambling has been in the City of Detroit in some form since 1999.
The three casinos had remained open, but with management and skeleton crews of non-union employees working.
The agreement is subject to approval by union membership.
