Casino workers at the Horseshoe in Shelbyville, Indiana, hit the picket line last week in an effort to unionize. According to Teamsters Local 135, more than 200 table game dealers walked off the job after 90% voted to strike.
The union already represents slot attendants and warehouse workers at the property. Table game workers are also demanding that the company recognize their right to unionize.
“We are not walking back into the building until we get recognized as a union, until we get our benefits back, and until they give us a seat at the table,” striking worker Ericka Hacker told WTHR.
Delayed Vote Spurs Action
Workers have been organizing for months, according to reports. A planned union vote was then delayed after the current federal government shutdown affected operations at the National Labor Relations Board.
Representatives with the union claim the company didn’t respond to a request to permit a neutral third party to run the unionization vote. Striking workers hope that the company’s operations are affected enough to make company representatives come to the bargaining table.
“You’ve got a lot of people out here that have a lot of game knowledge,” Hacker said. “They’re not going to be able to run this building without us.”
Company representatives said the employees have a right to unionize, but appear to prefer the NLRB’s involvement in the process.
“Caesars Entertainment values its long-standing relationship with labor unions, including those currently representing Team Members at Horseshoe Indianapolis,” the company previously told WTHR.
“While the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has postponed this scheduled union vote due to the federal government shutdown, we remain committed to ensuring our Team Members can exercise their legally protected right to vote in a union election. We fully support the NLRB process and will continue to comply with all federal regulations.”
The casino industry has seen several work stoppages over the last few years. Workers at Caesars Southern Indiana walked off the job for two weeks in April before reaching a new five-year contract.
That included a month-long strike in Detroit in 2023. Earlier this year, Virgin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas saw employees hit the picket lines for 69 days before reaching a deal.
