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This week, of multiple unions have voted to authorize strikes that could affect Caesars Entertainment casinos. One of the casinos is in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, the other is the Caesars Southern Indiana Hotel & Casino in Elizabeth, Indiana.
For the Canadian workers, better pay is the primary issue, while their peers in Indiana have mentioned retirement benefits as a specific concern.
In both cases, union representatives cite ongoing labor contract negotiations as the reason for the strike authorizations.
For now, both Caesars casinos remain open. Neither union has set a date for a potential work stoppage to begin, as negotiations continue and the possibility of resolution without a strike remains on the table.
Unions announce strike authorization
An April 1 press release from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters shares the results of a strike authorization vote by of the Teamsters Local 89 and Operating Engineers Local 399 employed at Caesars Southern Indiana. The vote went in favor of authorizing a strike by 98%.
The release states that the action “is a direct response to management’s refusal to offer a fair contract.” It also claims that Caesars Southern Indiana was “one of the most profitable casinos in the state” in 2024.
On March 29, Chris Ensing reported similar events from Caesars Windsor for CBC. The Unifor 444 at the casino also authorized a strike that could start as early as this week because the current contract expires at 11:59 p.m. on April 2.
Teamsters Local 89 and Engineers Local 399 have not emphasized any deadlines related to when a strike could begin in Indiana. Sticking points in contract negotiations at both casinos concern typical points of contention in labor negotiations like benefits and compensation.
Negotiations focusing on compensation packages
The Teamsters release specifies that the unions and Caesars Southern Indiana management are still seeking agreement on retirement benefits “and other key economic issues.” In Windsor, Uniform 444 president James Stewart told AM800 that “the have given us a lot of issues but the monetary issues are the most important.”
Caesars has not yet commented on the situation in Elizabeth but has put out a short statement regarding Windsor.
We respect the bargaining process and union leadership’s strong mandate to reach a deal on behalf of the hip. In the spirit of fair negotiations, we will not be commenting further at this time.
Stewart added that the negotiations “have already resolved a lot of issues…but we’re not where we need to be yet by any means.”
Barring new agreements, Caesars could soon be dealing with two work stoppages. The further escalation of union actions will hinge upon reaching those agreements in a timely fashion.
