10.15.07
By COREY WILLIAMS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A coalition of labor unions has targeted MotorCity Casino as the focus of contract talks this week.
The labor agreement covering workers at MotorCity and Detroit’s other two casinos is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.
"Our focus in the next few days will be to reach an agreement that recognizes what workers have contributed, and keeps the industry moving forward," United Auto Workers Vice President Jimmy Settles said Monday in a news release.
"The dealers, drivers, housekeepers, wait staff, building operators and other workers who make up the Detroit Casino Council have been key to the success of the gaming industry in our city since the very beginning," Settles said.
The Detroit Casino Council represents the UAW, the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union and the Operating Engineers, Teamsters and Carpenters unions.
Negotiations were continuing Monday, UAW Local 7777 financial secretary-treasurer Shimeca Jackson said.
Jackson said she could not comment on any timeline for negotiations with Greektown and MGM Grand Detroit casinos.
About 10,000 employees at all three casinos will be represented under the new contract once it is reached, Jackson said.
A spokeswoman for MotorCity said the casino could not comment on the negotiations.
The negotiations are pivotal for the casinos, which are spending $1.5 billion on new hotels and gaming expansions.
MotorCity Casino opened its expanded gaming floor earlier this year and is spending $275 million on a 17-story hotel to open later this fall.
MGM Grand Detroit opened its new, $800 million, 18-story hotel and casino complex earlier this month. Greektown Casino is spending $475 million to expand its existing facility, including $200 million for a 20-story hotel and a parking structure set to open next year.
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