Employees at Horseshoe Indianapolis casino in Shelbyville, Indiana are planning to strike beginning Tuesday to demand recognition after a scheduled union election was postponed indefinitely due to a federal government shutdown, according to Indianapolis Business Journal.
The delay stems from the closure of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the federal agency tasked with overseeing union elections, which has been impacted by lapses in government funding.
Key takeaways:
- Casino workers in Shelbyville plan strike over indefinite union election delay
- Strike aims to pressure management into recognizing the union and accepting voting plan
- Broader trend of increasing union activity in Indiana and nationwide casino sector
Over 200 casino workers in Shelbyville, including dealers and supervisors, have expressed frustration as the casino’s management declined their proposal to hold the union vote on October 17 using a neutral third-party process.
Dustin Roach, president of Teamsters Local 135, criticized the response from Horseshoe management, describing it as an escalation in “aggressive union-busting” efforts.
Casino Workers in Shelbyville Launch Pre-Election Strike
The planned strike is notable because workers rarely take such action before formally securing union recognition. The employees intend to use the strike to pressure Horseshoe management into accepting their alternative voting plan and ultimately recognizing the union.
Roach stated the strike is legally protected under the National Labor Relations Act and said that threatened strikes of this sort usually prompt employers to concede. However, Horseshoe Indianapolis has yet to change its position.
Teamsters Local 135 already represents some Horseshoe employees. The casino generated $336 million in revenue in 2024, making it the second-highest-grossing gambling facility in Indiana.
Union Momentum Builds Across Casinos
This labor action takes place during a broader rise in union activism within the Indiana casino sector. Earlier this year, more than 140 workers at Caesars Southern Indiana staged a 13-day strike before ratifying a five-year contract that included wage increases and expanded benefits.
In 2023, casino workers in Detroit also authorized strikes seeking improved pay and working conditions due to ongoing contract disputes. These actions reflect a nationwide trend of increasing labor organizing among casino workers pushing for workplace rights and fair compensation.
