Labor negotiations are heating up at the San Pablo Lytton Casino in California’s Bay Area, where workings are demanding higher wages and better employment protections, represented by their union UNITED HERE.
The union represents close to 300 workers. UNITE HERE was once the ally of the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians, which it helped in 2005 to lobby the U.S. Congress for permission to expand what had been a card room into a Las Vegas style casino. The deal at the time was that the union’s members would have well-paying jobs. The union claims the tribe has not kept up its end of the bargain.
“They said they needed the slot machines to raise money, which they have made, but the workers have not seen any benefits,” a spokesman for the union told the East Bay Times. Currently average employees earn $12 an hour, compared to the Graton casino, and the Oaks Card Club, both with $14 an hour.
Larry Stidham, who represents the tribe, disputes that the tribe and union ever had an agreement. He told the Times: “There was no quid pro quo. We have (a Memorandum of Understanding) with the city of San Pablo, but there is nothing in there about an increase in wages. That is all part of labor negotiations.”
The union seeks a 12 percent pay hike and more than three months of unpaid leave in the event of injury or a birth. The union also wants to alleviate the situation of pregnant workers working in a smoke-filled environment. Giving more unpaid leave would address this problem, it says.
The tribe also offers its own workers compensation program, and doesn’t participate in the Golden State’s version.
