Meanwhile, 40,000 members of the Culinary Union in Las Vegas authorized a strike in late September.
The strike is the first for Detroit casinos since gaming expansion in Michigan in the late 1990s. “The three Detroit casinos collectively reported $813 million more in total gaming revenues in 2022 than in 2019, but total wages paid to workers represented by the DCC were $34 million less when comparing those same years.” “In 2022, the Detroit casino industry generated $2.27 billion in gaming revenue and is on track for another record-breaking year in 2023,” said a news release from the Detroit Casino Council. Workers now say that revenue has returned to pre-pandemic levels, especially with the inclusion of iGaming throughout Michigan. The extension was agreed to during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when casinos were under pressure to stay open. A sign at MGM Grand Detroit posted by Reddit user /u/dormant123 The workers went on strike when a deal was not reached by the deadline.
The two sides have been negotiating since September, and a three-year extension to the original five-year contract expired on Tuesday. Striking workers are asking for better healthcare, higher wages, and a return to pre-pandemic staffing sizes.
