Unionized workers at the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore say the casino revenues have rebounded from pandemic-fueled declines. As a result, they want raises in line with other workers in gaming and hospitality.
Some 20 workers and union representatives demonstrated February 1 in front of the casino calling for raises, holiday pay and other changes. Workers said bargaining with Caesars has stalled on a contract that expired in October.
Employees say they want wages that align with other union-represented hospitality companies in the city, according to the Baltimore Sun.
“Everyone’s struggling to get by, with inflation through the roof,” said Tiego Murray, 33, a bar porter at Brew Brothers, one of the casino’s restaurants. “If inflation can be adjusted, then so can our pay. … Everything’s been difficult, just keeping up with rent and bills going up.”
Horseshoe Casino’s lowest non-tipped workers earn $14.67 an hour and have not had a raise since October 2021.
A four-year contract Caesars had with Atlantic City workers not only included paid holidays but raised wages to a range of $18 to $22 an hour, union representatives said.
In its most recent quarter, the gaming operator generated more than $1.5 billion in revenues at regional casinos outside of Las Vegas, with the company calling it the “strongest third quarter that we’ve ever had,” in an earnings call.
The union argues that gaming revenues at Horseshoe Baltimore have been recovering since the pandemic-struck year of 2020. The casino reported $209.9 million in gaming revenue, with an additional $6.5 million in retail sports wagering revenue last year, up from $209.4 million in 2021 and $145.3 million in 2020.
David Carleton, 52, a bartender at Brew Brothers, said some movement has been made on holiday pay, which he said is a hospitality industry standard.
But “there’s a lot of disrespect towards the city and its residents in the way they’ve approached bargaining,” Carleton said.
For instance, he said, the offered wage increases “are just not substantial at all. … They’re only giving us spare change for three out of the four years that we’re bargaining for right now. … Pay just needs to keep up.”
Workers also say the casino remains understaffed.
“In every department we are struggling to do the work of three or four people,” said Andrea Williams, a cook at the casino.
The hospitality industry is Baltimore’s third largest employer and “really important to revitalizing the city in terms of jobs that people can have to support their families,” said Tracy Lingo of Unite Here Local 7, one of the unions in a coalition representing 600 casino dealers, cocktail servicer, cooks, bartenders, cleaning staff and other workers.
