Casino Workers Win Election Ruling at Bally’s

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/04/17/casino-workers-win-election-ruling-at-ballys/

Thanks to Roger Kerson of the UAW for letting us know about the victory of Bally’s Atlantic City casino workers who are seeking a better life by joining a union. Bally’s had appealed the workers’ decision to join UAW to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Here is UAW’s announcement of the win:

A rally by community leaders to support collective bargaining rights for dealers and other casino workers turned into an impromptu victory celebration Wednesday when the NLRB confirmed a June 2007 election victory at Bally’s and certified the UAW as the union chosen by full- and part-time dealers, keno and simulcast workers.

“This is great news!” said Chun Zhu, a dealer at Bally’s.

We won our election by more than 2-1 nearly a year ago. We knew all along it was a fair vote, with a huge majority in favor of forming our own union.

In the April 11 ruling released Wednesday, the NLRB in Washington, D.C., upheld the Oct. 18, 2007, decision of Administrative Law Judge David Goldman, who dismissed all of Bally’s objections to the election and found the vote to be valid and binding.

“The NLRB did the right thing, by recognizing our majority,” said Edda Osis, a simulcast writer at Bally’s.

It’s long past time for Bally’s to do the right thing. They’ve lost their attempt to delay our election, and it’s time to come together so everyone can win at the bargaining table.

“This is another major win for casino workers,” said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger.

Dealers and all the other casino workers in Atlantic City who have chosen UAW representation have the full support of our entire union as they work to win their first contract agreements.

The NLRB announcement was well-received during a bipartisan press conference at City Hall, where Democratic- and Republican-elected officials, interfaith leaders and community activists had gathered to support casino workers across Atlantic City who have won UAW union representation elections and are working to bargain their first contracts.

FULL story at link.

[Selatius]

1. I never thought UAW would represent workers in the gaming industry.

Usually, I think they represent auto-plant workers, but they probably are branching out since the news in Detroit nowadays is not good.