10.16.07
Casinos, unions agree to contract extension
Detroit's three casinos and their five unions have agreed to extend the contract which was set to expire at 11:59 p.m. tonight while bargaining over a new labor deal continues.
The unions have also said they would give the gambling halls 72 hours notice if they decide to end the extension and strike.
Bargaining continues today at the Pontchartrain Hotel. People familiar with the situation say stumbling blocks include wages and health care benefits.
A union official said Monday that MotorCity Casino has been targeted as the focus of the talks. The contract also covers workers at MGM Grand Detroit and Greektown.
The five unions banded together at the beginning of the decade to form the Detroit Casino Council.
MGM Grand confirmed the extension.
"We are committed to reaching a mutually agreeable contract for our team members and will continue to bargain in good faith with the DCC to do so," said George Boyer, president and COO of the casino.
During contract negotiations in 2003, casino workers won a number of wage and health-care guarantees. That agreement secured wage increases of at least $4,000 per worker over the life of the contract, and $2,000 lump-sum seniority bonuses for some workers.
That four-year contract also lowered health and dental insurance costs for union members.
The Detroit Casino Council represents the United Auto Workers, the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union, and, Teamsters and Carpenters unions.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?Dato=20071016&Kategori=UPDATE&Lopenr=710160433&Ref=AR
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